Evening star., 1916-08-17
BRITISH ADVANCE
ON SOMME FRONT,
NEAR GU|LLEMONT
Push Forward Their Lines
West and Southwest
of Town.
FRENCH CONSOLIDATE
NEWLY WON GROUND
German Counter Stroke Expected
to the North of
Maurepas.
'PERONNE IS THE OBJECTIVE
Important Railway Center Is Goal.
Q Berlin Admits One Reverse
and Claims Sue
cesSeS.

SCoSCSs
LONDON, August II, 3:Ie
p.m.-The British have made an
other advance on the Somme
front. Official announcement was
made today that the line has been
pushed forward west and south
west of Guillemont.
After scoring important gains
along front of nearly three miles
in the Somme region both north
and south of the river, the Frencl,
are busily consolidating the newly
won ground, making preparations
for the expected German counter
stroke. No such attack developed
last night, but the Paris bulletin
today reports intense artillery ac-
.tivity north of Maurepas, where
The French yesterday, in conjunc-
ton with the British, effected
their most telling advance, captur-
ing more than three-quarters of a
mile of trenches.
According to the German Off
cial statement of today, French
and British troops made heavy
attacks on the northern Somme
front yesterday. but were beaten
back by the Germans. Berlin ad-
,nits the French gained a foothold
in German hrst-line trenches over
width of 500 meters near Bellov.
Objective of Operation.
The new allied advance north of the
somme weakens the hold of the Ger
mans on Guillemont and Maurepas
which latter place the French already
partly hold The objective Of the op-
GRAFTON is the important railway CEN
ter Of Peronne. nearly opposite which.
south Of the river, the French yester-
day also scored gain in the region of
Belloy-en-Santerre.
The British communication of TODAY
follows:
British offcial Report.
AS result of fighting undertaken
yesterday evening in conjunction with
French advance on Maurepas. we
have pushed forward our line both
west and southwest of GuiIIemont
West of High wood We captured some
800 yards of hostile trench about 300
yards in advance of our previous line
East of Mouquet farm our machine
sunfre nipped in the bud a German
attack.
West of Vimy we exploded a mine
and occupied the crater with only
enemy blew up small mines south oY
Loos. causing us neither casualties nor
damage" 1oi
French Story Of Fighting.
The text of the French sta,enen,
giving details of yesterdays e1b,,n,,
follows:
On the Somme front, after an in
tense artillery preparation, we launch
90 AL offensive which brought lis inn
"ortant gains. North of Maurepas as
SlSted BY the British. we Captured ono
entire iine of German trenches y, -
'front.' OF 1000 meters. reaching at Ger
. tain points the Guiliemont-Maurenas
road. vi epas
South OF Maurepas. on a from, OF two
hitometers and to depth of 9oo 80
300 meters. our infantry occuniad al
enemy positions east OF the Narrenss
'iery road after sharp attack which
cost the enemy heavily. These two
Operations. brilliantly and rapidly CON
Quoted. resulted IN the capture OF !.
considerable number of prisoners
Nhose numbers are not yet obtaIna HE
Al the same time south of the
@oinine. our troops. attacking with =.
rnTh. captured q powerfully organized
"HstriN Of German trenches on a Iength
.; 100 meters south of Beiloy-.p
T-ntsrrs. T capturing sixty prisoners.
IAere was an Intermittent cannonade
ON the remainder OF III" front"
German Communication.
The German statement of today fol-
lows:
THE enemy's fire increased AT times
20 great violence west of Wytschae,e
and on the La Bassee canal and 10 IN.
south thereof
After strong British attacks from,
The Jvillers-Pozieres line and west OF
fourtauN wood had been repuIsed In
the morning the French, after the
strongest artillery preparation, adyanc-
ed 20 the assault between Guiliemont
and the Sommc. and at the same time
very considerable british forces adj
vanced between PoZieres and Foureaux
l..tod.
--fhe assault failed. as did five noe
trrnal attacks attempted by the French
After stubborn fighting, portions OF
the enemy troops which penetrated our
positions west of Foureaux wood and
south of Maurepas were driven back
again. The enemy's losses were large
South of the Somme hghting took
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