New Britain herald., 1916-07-11

tory progress in their great offen- sive in Picardy. Mondays operations agaln were confined to the southern echelon, which has consolidated and extended it's hold upon the northern plateau opposite Peronne. The outstanding French success of the day was the capture of all the German positions on Hill 97, the highest point of the plateau. The first French rush on Sunday carried them to the western slope of this hill, on which they made good their footing, but the troops waiting there had been stopped until adequate prep aration permitted an attack on the farm buildings at the summit, which the Germans had converted into a small fortress. This assault was made with more speed and fewer casual ties They are now in full possess sion of this height from which they look into Peronne, 150 feet below. The result, they claim from the whole days fighting, is command or the left bank of the Somme to a point opposite F'laucourt, the Germans holding only a few positions on the edge of the river.
 This does not mean, French rnili- tary critics admit, that Peronne can be captured out of hand. The Ger mans, according to the statem ents of prisoners, have constructed for midable defenses outside the city, but the French believe that these are not likely to delay the capture long when General Foch decides the time is ripe to make it.
 French artillery already is begin ming to throw a ring of fire around the city. How effective that artil- lery now has become is described by an officer attached to a heavy bat tery on the Somme front, who said: Thanks to our aviators, we have never been spotted by the enemy's air service since we have been in our present positions. Under these con- ditions our work is excellent. Ob- jects aimed at are smashed with re- markable precision. For example,
 we have just fired four shells at a bridge more than fourteen miles away Four times the aviation off, cer who was watching where our shipments arrived, signalled us by wireless the simple word "bridge.'
 French Take Over 1900 Prisoners.
 Paris, July 11-The situation re- mained unchanged on the Somme front last night.
 The war office statement of today says that it has been ascertained that south of the Somme the French in the last two days have taken more than 1900 prisoners.
 On the Verdun front the Germans launched an attack at 4 o'clock this morning on the French positions from Fleury to a point east of Chenois. They succeeded in penetrating ad- vanced French trenches at some points but were expelled immediately by a counter attack.
 West of the Mouse there was &C., tive artillery fighting in the neighbor- hood of Avercourt and Chattancourt.
 Northeast of Veho the Germans ex- ploded four mines, the craters Of which eventually were occupied by the French.
 Attack at Verdun.
 The communication follows
 "On both sides of the Somme the night passed in quiet. The total num- Der of prisoners taken by us south of the Somme in the fighting of the last few days is now more than 1900.
 "On the left bank of the Mouse (Verdun front) there were severe ar tillery engagements in the sectors of Avocourt and Chattancourt. To the l right of the river the bombardment l yesterday of our positions from Fleury | to point east of Chenois was re- doubled in intensity. At 4 o'clock | this morning the Germans delivered | an attack over the whole front thus ] bombarded East of Fumin Wood l and Chenois Wood the enemy gained 1 a foothold in our advanced trenches ! but immediately was elected entirely 1 by counter attacks. Elsewhere our l curtain of fire and our machine guns ! broke up the attacks of the enemy. | The bombardment continues in this l region.
 West of Pont-Au-Mousson sur prise attack delivered by the enemy l against one of our trenches west or Mortmare Wood was broken up com 1 pletely.
 "In Lorraine after spirited artillery l preparation the Germans attacked the l salient in our line east of Reillon, and succeeded in penetrating portions of o11r first line over a front of 200 me- tres.
 "In the vicinity of Veho the enemy attempted by the explosion of four mines to destroy one of our trenches. He was checked by our fire and driven back, leaving dead and wound ed We occupied the craters of the German mines.
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