The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-16
Half Million English Troops
Fail to Break Thru.
Germans Reverse Result When
Big Guns Are Silent.
FACE ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH
Occupants of First Trench
Have Small Life Chance.
TeutOn Forces Determined to
Hold Their Positions.

German trenches opposite the Brit
ish position at Gommecourt, on the
Somme front. via Berlin and Sayville
wireless. Aug 16.-Half a million
British have been engaged in the eff
fort to break the German lines on the
Somme front. Often, as in the fight
ing between Gommecourt and Hebu-
torne. the British outnumbered the
Germans six to one They have gained
ground to a depth of from to miles
ever a front of about is miles, but
nowhere have been able to break
through.
More than ever. death has become
commonplace in this most murderous
battle of all times The Germans in
the first line know that they proba bly,
will be killed if their positions are at
tackled Trenches are virtually use
less. for the heavy British shells widen
them in to broad channels, afford1nS
no cover of any sort the first line
usually perishes.
The advancing British foot troops
are no better rff because the Germans
reverse the process when part of their
positions have been captured. AFTER
the British artillery had leVelled the
German trenches the infantry rusnes
in often to be thrown out again as
soon as the British artillery ceases
fire. which it has to do owing to the
proximity of the opposing lines
Terrific Artillery Fire.
Thus the battle has been going on
for weeks, the opposing forces now
gaining, at terrific cost and then los
ing at even greater cost. n few yards
of trenches. At present all the right
ing by the British is carried on from
their Pozieres salient, where their
fe inc a n
German officers who were in the
Champagne offensive said no such
artillery fire had ever developed pre-
vtously The German fire. too, is ter
rifle. An idea of its, intensity may
be gained from the fact that on GER
tain British troops German guns
threw / zoo shells in one minute and
forty-five seconds, resulting in great
slaughter.
often The British assault dies
away before the German second line.
from which machine guns pour out
streams Of bullets which literally cut
the men into fragments. At one point
the Associated Press correspondent
stood within 500 yards Of the British
trenches near Delville wood. Near by
the Germans had just buried 1926
British as lulls in the firing permitted.
Determined to Hold Place.
Some SOC British prisoners whom
the correspondent saw behind the fir
ing line plainly were still dazed from
the shock. They were sorry spec
tacle. glad they had escaped from
shell" as they termed it. The CORE
spondent visited the entire front of
the present offensive and everywhere
found from talks with Germans hat
they were more determined than ever
to stand their ground. The mon are
in ca pital shape physically and Of easy
mind. although they are looking upon
death each time
An officer pointed out that now
adays each man is his own leader, as
1t is often impossible under present
battle conditions to transmit COM
mands. While the generals might still
plan the actions, the officer said, it
was plain that the infantry man, act
ing upon his own initiative in the
presence of death. must save the day.
Back of the German lines within
British artillery range, hardly single
house was standing. Embers were
still burning in the ruins of two vii
aages as correspondent passed thru.
Officers said there were no German
troops in such places and that the VIC
Tins were mostly French civilians. OF
these the correspondent saw scores OF
wounded.
Removed the Civilians.
Wherever possible the Germans re-
moved these civilians as at Beloquoy
The population of this town was sent
out at = q CtOCk III the morning anu
The bombardment began at 8 o'clock
BY noon the entire village was RACED
The village of RancOurt met with q
similar fate. The correspondent saw
part of the population rushing fol
safety and a few hours later looked or
the burning debris of the town.
British aviators have made severa
attempts to burn the grain crop, APP
parently unmindful of the fact that i
belongs to French peasants. One avia
tor, descending to 500 yards from thu
ground, threw bombs among a har
Vesting party, killing two French girl
and wounding others. There 10 n,
safety anywhere in the zone behint
the front. What the artillery does no
reach is exposed constantly to tn,
bombs of aviators.
While the correspondent was a
Bugny eight civilians were killed
Eighteen others were wounded o
whom four died in the German hos
pital the same day. At Cambria fou
persons were killed and two Wounds
on the same night. a French civilian
pointed out that. while the Germa
soldiers have built bomb proofs il
which to seek refuge the civilian
have only cellars. He begged that thi
be brought to the attention of tn
British military authorities
"A man dats workin' hard tryin' to re
form hisself" said Uncle Eben, don see.
to git Nigh so much incoura cement an
applause as de man dat gifts up on
platform an scolds folks in general