New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-05
Reach a Point Where They
Expect to Take German
Trenches in Rear.
HARD HAND-TO-HAND
FIGHTING GOING ON
Allies on West Front Are Firing
Three Shells to Every One
of the Enemy's.
fBy Gable 10 The Tribune J

nanu nHHllnR, WIN OcCdSloHhl sai'cS w
the French and British and counter at
tacks by the Germans, continue along
the Somme front, but without any gen
eral action except by the artillery. This
is keeping up its ceaseless night and
day pounding of the trenches the Ger
mans hold and of the ground in the
rear. where they are trying to build
new defences. The Allies are firing
about three shells to the Germans one
in preparation for the new drive, when
is expected to come soon.
The Germans, however, are keeping
up heavy fire all along the British
front, indicating their expectation that
the Allies are not pinning all their
hopes on the Somme offensive.
In the last tventy-four hours fight
ing the only change in position Is
gain for the British in pushing their
lines westward from Pozieres along the
Albert Ridge, where they expect soon
to take in the rear the trenches which
the Germans still hold on its crest.
The new British lines are very close to
the Germans, and the officers there re-
port that there are many bodies lying
around them, showing the effects OF the
British she'll fire. More than one hun
dred prisoners were captured.
Fight for Delville Woods.
The Germans have not yet given up
their attempts TO recapture the Delville
Woods from the British nor the Monacu
Farm from the French. From beneath
the rain of shells attack after attack
is still being made, but all have oeen
without result. The official reports
from the Allied side make no mention
of these actions. The Germans tell OF
renulses of Allied attacks concerning
which, also, the Allied generals are
silent.
A vivid account of the fighting here
is written by a correspondent of La
Liberte," of Paris, which has been re-
ceived here.
while furious cannonading is going
on night and day." he writes, destroy
ing the adversary's intrencnments, the
Germans are trying desperately TO take
the positions in Delville Wood and n
the Monacu farm. Repeated attacks
however, have been in vain, and pris-
oners confirm the extent of the German
losses.
"Tbe Fourteenth Bsvarian Regiment,
which was seriously affected at Bethin-
court. was reformed and hastily sent
10 the Somme front on July 10
One of its battalions was wiped out,
while the second and third oattalions
lost 30 per cent Of their strength:
oG of tho third
battalion were made prisoners.
Other Losses Reported.
"The 1l1th Regiment also sustained
heavy losses which are admitted in
service note found on prisoner. The
note ended with these words: From
this day. July 81, the second battalion
ceases to exist The men belonglny
thereto are ordered TO join the first
battalion.
zone of the French machine gun
companies was able to concentrate
thanking fire on the Germans debouch-
ing from the Maurepas road and in
ficted heavy losses on them. All day
Yesterday the Germans bombarded vlo-
iently our work there, and the adJoln-
ing sector. but French batteries replied
energetically. and reduced number OF
the enemy guns 20 suence'
"The efforts of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to retake the Delville Wood were futile
in the face of the courageous resist
ance of the South African troops. At
one point the British allowed the Bran
denburgians to come within less than
fifty metres of the British positions.
There they were met by the stimuli
taneous fire of machine guns, and only
q few escaped.
"The news Of the retaking yesterday
of Fleury was received on the Somme
front with much enthusiasm. Of1cers
and men sang The Msrsellaise,' their
voices resounding as far as the ad-
versaries' trenches. At C the SOL
diers hastily constructed with leaves a
triumphal arch, placing on II the in
scription, we will get them
Quiet Day. Say British.
The British official communication is
sued this evening says:
at was a quiet day. In the trenches
which we captured last night west OF
Pozieres we are in very close touch with
the enemy. A large number of German
dead is lying all around these trenches.
We captured over 100 prisoners.
THE enemy's artillery maintained
barrage southwark of Pozieres nearly
all day. He also shelled the southern
portion of the Mametz Wood. Near st.
Aloi the enemy exploded a small mine,
which only damaged his own wire. he
fired another near Auchy, on his own
side of a crater. This seems TO indi-
cate some nervousness among his
miners.
"A patrol of four 4 our aeroplanes
engaged seven eremy machines in a
fight which lasted forty-iiye minutes.
Three of the enemy's aeroplanes were
driven down, while two of ours are
missing"
Some Ground Gained.
An earlier statement said:
Last night as the result Of minor /
operations TO the west OF Pozieres We
gained some ground In other minor
operations north of Bazentin-le-Pe /
and northwest of Delville Wood we /
captured a few prisoners.
During the night there was con-
siderable artillery fire on both sides .
at various portions of the British /
front.
"A raiding party destroyed an
enemy's mine shaft TO the east of .
Loos. Near the Ypres-C Confines road We .
exploded a small mine in the enemy's f.
lies and occupied the crater"
The French official communication |
to-day say:
ION the Somme front there was no
infantry action in the course OF the
day. An artillery duel continues in ,
the region of Monscu farm.
"On the front OF the Somme our
artillery has bombarded enemy or
CARNATIONS. We destroyed near
Eunemian. TO the south OF Peronne.
German captive balloon.