The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-04
German Reinforcements Arrive
and Tide of Battle Ebbs and
Flows
SERIES OF ACTIONS
FOR POSITIONS
La Boiselle Garrison Capitu-
lates to DISQUALIFICATION
Point to Stitching of Ger.
man Resistance

OF the powerful Franco British
offensive on the Somme Is a rec.
ord OF continued advances and
striking new successes.
The French army Of General &
Foch, operating south Of tho 4
river, has broken completely
through the second German de- NJ
tense line for \ distance OF three
miles, and tonight Is within four
miles of Peronne, key position OF Nj
the German front for 100 nailea, 4
and the objective of its drive.
During q night and day Of con. Il
tinuous fighting the French have 4
pushed forward three miles, cap-
tured flse villages and two fore
ests, and increased the numhee
OF prisoners taken to more thar
5000. 48
The British to the north hayo
occupied the village OF La BOZ,
seile, made further field gains
and brought their number OF can. Il
uyes TO 1000. Tonight they arr a
nRhttng furfouAy around Owl.
iers and north of Fricourt- Whifo
not reporting such sensational
gains ms that OF the first driya
south OF the Somme they are. u
the face of tremendous rcsist
ancc, making some advances.
German Loss Is $4,000, Estimated
The German losses to date are 81
at 10000 killed and wounded and
more than $4,000 in prisoners. No
estimate can be made of the. Franco.
brltish casualties Berlin today re.
ports that the British arc SUFFERING
terribly on their whole front frorf,
Gommecourt to where they ioin the
French General Haig in a. report
from his headquarters in France.
however, declares the English losses
are less than expected"
Most Desperate Conflict.
The most desperate fighting of the
oay TOOK place south of the Somme
on the front held by the French.
North OF the river, at the junction OF
the French northern wing and rhe
British southern, there was a dectded
iull The allies spent the day in COM
solidating the ground gained and thA
Germans were content to prepare
against renewed attacks. No infantry
actions were fought. but the allied
o4'.eries carried on a gruellins
pounding Of the opposing lines.
Inc arrival of heavy German rein.
1orcements was reported today. Many
or these already have been throw
into battle, being especially no,ices Nj.
oeiore Peronne and on the British
front. The tide of battle ebbed ara
mower FOR the British today, b,it.
summing up the situation. Gencrn]
hais tonight reports "substantfzI
progress
Al some points the British wers
oriven back by German counter-at.
lacks during tho day and in larra
measure the battle on this part m
the front has resolved itself into
series OF actions for positions
La Boiseile Is Captured.
Inc most important British raiS
vas tho capture OF La Bolselle. where
. German garrison. although sur
rounded. had hold out for three days
1ney nnAlly capitulated this aftesl
The fight nuosuated this afternos4
Soout La boiselle." says the official
report from British headouarterx n
France. And also south 81 Thienv,I
the advantage on the whole Remaining
with u.s. South of Thepval hostila
drove some of our
troops from portion of the positions
they had captured In the early rnorss4
ING Elsewhere many hostile attsckS
were repulsed. with heavy losses. Al
some places we continued to n,ana
progress.
The amount Of captured arma.
ment and war-like stores is consider
are Accurate details are unobtaif,.
ole. The number OF prisoners en-
cceds 4,30o. &,
On the rest of the front, except foy
heavy hostile artillery Are at eeftA9X
points. there was no incident OF Ina
portance. 'S
Yesterday there was a marged ~
crease in the number OF hostile acre
planes on the southern sectors 81 NY
front. but in spite OF this our airnao2
carried out in a gallant manner Sl
the duties assigned to them.
To-day q hostile kite balloon ~
destroyed and fell in flames Strf
the commencement OF the battle ~
have lost fifteen machines on IT.
whole British 'front.' nm
French DO Valiant Days Worh,#
The positions captured ~ tt3
French during the day include
Mercaucourt and Chn1<tre woode
the villages Of Hernecf5irt. FeuialS1
Assevillers. Buscour9 ana Flaconrf
these Herbecourt three and "a
miles from Peronne, ana Asaav113
which n Described ~ - paseAs1n "
tar VI tho Gsgusa1i offsuotye
zattcn." aro the meGe ixn1ot1 ri
oevsn heteoc1oA -
AZ ~ 81 4. s u 81 u ss