New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
Make Breach in Line
Seriously Menacing
Thiepval.
GERMAN THRUSTS
AT FLEURY FAIL
French Hold Firm and
Crown Prince Shifts
Attack.
By ARTHUR S. DRAPER.

London. Aug. 5.-Terrifc fighting,
IN which the British have cleared
cut nearly two miles Of the Ger
man second line trenches north OF
Pozieres. and the French have re-
pulsed fierce German attempts to re-
rain the ground lost before Verdun,
has continued all day along both bat
lie fronts in the West The struggles
have been hand 10 hand and knife to
tnife in many places, and the losses
on both sides, especially the German,
are understood to be appalling.
The fercest struggles and the
heaviest German losses came in the
attempts 10 recapture the Thiaumont
work and the ruins Of Fleury. The
attacks on Thiaumont were aban-
doned after several had broken down
under the withering fire Of the
French rifles, leaving the dead piled
in windrows along the lines Of
trenches. These attacks lasted from
9 o'clock last night till after day
light, and were almost as desperate
and bloody as those which finally
wrested Douaumont from the French
three months ago.
Fleury Lines Attacked
There we're similar and equally fu-
tie attacks on the French lines in
Fleury, and these are still going on,
though they have made no appreci-
able change in the situation. In both
these fights the German losses far ex-
ssded those Of the French. who fought
vhder cover.
Finally, seeing the uselessness and
terrible cost Of the drives here. the
Crown Prince shifted mis- attack. He
tried first a blow near Pont-a-Mous-
son, which failed, and during the day
launched two tremendous drives
sgainst the Vaux-le-Chapitre wood,
where there was a chance Of breaking
the French line and outfanking the
Ihisumon. position. The first Of these
failed; the second won a foothold in
The French lines. but the Germans who
reached the trenches were driven out
Or captured by a prompt French rally.
Tonight the lines are unchanged.
Fleury More Important.
The French successes are considered
isr more important morally than from
military point Of view. Thiaumont
Itself is Of little value, as it is so com
Plstely swept by the artillery of both
armies. It can hardly be used even as
base for the attack on Douaumont,
which is expected soon. Fleury IS Of
greater use, as the French, holding it,
protect the approaches to the line of
ioris beginning there.
But morally the effect is considered
very important. It must be doubly
Notifying 10 the Germans, who have
tried 10 convince the world that their
advance there was proceeding slowly
and methodically, but irresistibly.
Another source of qualification lies in
me fact that the Germans have limited
neir counter attacks to so narrow a
mont. i used 70 be their custom,
saeneyer the French made a gain, to
su'Se along many miles Of trenches.
aat they have not done so to-day is
gsAeyed to prove that they have not
hais Sweeps 6,OOO-Yard Line.
On the Somme front General Haig,
'.'n ms customary deliberation, struck
S.n Ssaen ne was ready-when the big guns
~ osen brought up. The attack is de-
eu 70 have been so sudden and
ssVnetiHl that the British losses were
r.Irsngly ~. small. The drive was
Br. north Of Pozieres, where the
Tsn gains have been smallest. II
sS: :ea the main second line positions
o., SSsptgred several hundred prison
w.. west Of Pozieres, also, the lines
a, pushed forward. The total front
ANN SSnlen gains were made is about
''yDS yards long.
B,ssus constitutes the most important
b,ss~ssth success Of the last week. The
n. 49, - which has now been made in
,en,, ,uerman lines running south by
ri"est risrs. behind Thiepval and Po-
tbs increases greatly the threat to
nav .,gInmunieations Of Thiepval, and
snoftly lead 20 the German aban-
eh' OF this powerfully fortified