New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-13
New Thrust Forces
Enc my Back Two
Thirds of Mile.
COUNTER-BLOW
FAILS TO GAIN
Germans Attack Britis'
Above Pozieres, but
Are Repulsed. 90
BY ARTHUR 8. DRAPER.
(By Cable 10 Ths Tribune.

London, Aug. 12.-The French
have struck another heavy blow in
the great Allied push. While the
Russians were sweeping the line Of
the Stripa and the Italians were
pushing onward over the Carso pla-
teau, Foch tore a breach three and
three-quarters miles long in the third
German line north Of the Somme.
Thus, with their armies advancing
on three fronts, ended what has been
for the Allies the most splendid week
of the war. The outstanding fact
of that week is that the Allies have
taken full measure Of their enemy.
If their present output of guns and
shells continues, they car break
through at almost any point at which
they attack.
The Russians and the Italians have
smashed the foes lines on wide
fronts, but they were enabled to win
these victories because the British
and French are holding l22 divisions
"a million and a half men-of the
Kaiser's best troops on the Western
front.
Agree on Military Plans.
LLOYD George and BRAND in confer
ence to-day reache, a complete agree
ment on all questit Is Of military op-
Grafton. At the sa ,e time the Hun
garian political lie, ders arrived at
Vienna to confer with the Austrian
Emperor after his interviews with the
German Imperial Chancellor and For
eign Minister. The great Allied drive
has begun to tell.
The French victory to-day caused
great elation in London. 1t demon
strated that the Allied offensive in
Picardy is not spent, and showed once
more the power that still resides in the
French arms.
From Hardecourt to the Somme
Foch's troops assailed the third Ger
man line to-day, and everywhere they
attacked they broke through. Their
charge took all the German trenches
and fortified works to depth of from
one-third TO two-thirds of mile. This
is the most serious hole in the German
third system that the Allies have made
in the West, and opens the way for
more attacks. :
Maurepas Penetrated.
Afteh the third line had been reached
the French dashed forward and pene-
trated the southern part Of the village
of Maurepas, on the road to Combles,
and seized the slopes Of Hill i09, di-
rectly north of Clery. Foch's prison
ers in this action already total more
than a thousand.
These successes put Combles in i'm
minent peril. When the remaining
parts Of Maurepas fall. Combles, which
lies on the Bapaume road. seven miles
south and east, will be fanked. The
British, pushing east from Guillemont.
threaten it from the north. Caught be-
tween enflading fires from both armies,
it cannot hold out long.
Combles Capture Imminent.
Their victory to-day brought the
French to within two miles of Combles
and Strengthened their front north of
Clery. When the British advance from
Guillemont, which is also seriously
threatened. a new east and west line
extending beyond Bapaume will be held
by the Allies. This formation. which
proved. so successful in the earlier days
Of the offensive. will give the Allies an.
other opportunity Of striking the Teu-
tons on the flank.
The Germans have been counter at
tacking heavily along the whole Somme
| front, but have not succeeded in throw
/ ing back the enemy az any point. The
French waited until these counter at
tacks had worn themselves out and thea
| turned on the weakened foe.
Desperate attacks were hurled by the
| Germans at the British lines in an ef-
fort to recapture the high ground north
| of Pozieres, but none of these sue
ceeded. The next British assault proc
ably will thrust eastward. Both CON-