The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-05
Notable Successes on Fifteen
Mile Front Attained by the
French in Gallant Dashes
CAPTURE STRATEGIC
HILL SIXTY-FlVE
British Hold All Ground Gain
ed Sunday - AT Verdun
French Made Slight Gains
West of Fleury

London, Sept. 4.--The. French
today inflicted another crushing
defeat upon the Germans north
and south of SOmme. In an all
day hattie they pushed their lines
considerable distance forward
on n fifteen-mile front from the
outskirts of Combles, north of the
river, to the village of Chilly.
south Of IL.
Early today General Foch beg IN
to follow up his success of yesterday.
won between Combles and the river.
He extended his line of attack to the
area south of the Somme, along the
southern edge of the Franco British
salient. He was everywhere success
full. Since the resumption OF the big
push" yesterday the French have
taken $500 prisoners. OF these 2.:00
were taken IN today's fighting south
of the river.
Ripping the German front below
the river wide open. the French cap
tured the first line trenches on the
Barleux- Denicourt road. gained firm
foothold in the outskirts of the VII
Iage of Barny and on the northern
edges of Denicourt. and captured all
of Soyecourt village. Further south
they took the entire German first line
position of the old German front he
tween Ferman Dovilliers and Chilly
and took the whole of the latter viii
lage. They, moreover. captured the
eastern slopes of the strategically i'm
portant Hill 65 and the western edges
of the Chaulnes wood.
Crush Southern Arm OF Salient
Thus they crushed in the whole
southern arm of the salient which
German commanders. In teir inter-
views with American correspondents.
have described "as the ugliest posi-
ton an army could be placed in," and
in which the French were exposed to
the German concentrated fire from
three sides.
But this is not all General Foch
did today. In addition TO driving the
Germans back to this twelve and one
half mile front south OF the river he
added TO the gains he made yesterday
between the Somme and Combles, AT
lacking from the village Leforest
which fell to them yesterday. the
French swept forward to the east
taking the hospital farm and ridge
west of Marieres Wool. The Teutons
determined to hold Cembles at all cost
debouched in strong forces frosa that
town In attempts to wrest from the
French their new positions to the
south A hail of she'll and shrapnel
met them and they were forced &c
give up their efforts according to the
night communicate after suffering
! very heavy losses" from tho French
machine gun and barrier FIRE.
British Make Gains.
The British held all the ground
gained yesterday northeast Of Combles
and made further progress northwes,
of the Moauet farm near Gnchy. This
latter village Is still partly held by
the defenders but all efforts today
to regain Guillemont or part of IT.
proved fruitless. Heavy lighting con-
tinues on this portion of our front,
reads the concluding sentence of to-
nights British headquarters report.
Move Forward at Verdun.
At verdun. too the French won q
further notable success today by ad-
vancing 100 meters west OF Fleury
village where every inch of ground
Is of the utmost Importance. The
Germans early in the day succeeded
in seizing A redoubt between Chois
Wood and vaux and some trenches &c
the west. Out OF all these positions
they were driven by french counter
attacks in the afternoon. General Nj
velle's troops making 100 prisoners. A
German attack east or Cnenois also
was beaten of. Altogether the French
took 500 prisoners near Fiery in the
last forty eight hours fighting.