New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-06
Seize 3 Trenches in
Triple Attack on St.
Pierre Vast Wood
TAKE 2 TOWNS
OUTSIDE VERDUN
British Assault Wins New
Ground on Heights
Near Bapaume
tBy Cable 70 Tie Tribune !

London, Nov. 5.-The French OBJ
tanned important successes on the
Somme and the Meuse fronts to-day,
crashing through the enemy's de-
fences for their greatest advances in
days. simultaneously with their
ally's stroke, the British struck for
ward north of the Somme and made
progress in the region Immediately
south of Bapaume.
The French successes on the
Somme front greatly strengthened
their grip on the Transloy region.
Between Les Beufs and Sailly-Sail-
lisel their lines were advanced sew
eral hundred yards nearer Transloy.
East Of Sailly-Saillisel the greater
part of the village of Saillisel was
conquered and an important trench
line taken.
Triple Attack Is Successful
South of the village the French
troops assailed the powerfully forti-
fed st. Pierre Vast Wood from
three sides at the same time and sue
ceeded in seizing three trenches de-
Tending the northern part of the
wood and sweeping the whole line Of
the enemy's Jefences on its south
western rim. The completed opera
ton won for Foch's troops an ad-
vance Of half a mile at nearly every
point on a four-mile line.
Haig's forces frightened their grip
on the important heights near tho
Butte de Warlencourt, in the centre
of their front. The advance was
made along a 1,0OO-yard line in the
sector nearest to Bapaume, thus di-
rectly increasing the threat to that
position.
Big Gains at Verdun
The continuance of their powerful
offensive on the Verdun front won for
the French their most important sue
cesses since the fall of Fort Vaux.
Smashing through the enemy's lines
north and east Of Fort Vaux. Niyelle's
troops conquered .he villages Of Vaux
and Damloup. These two operations,
carried out by separate columns with
perfect coordination, represent an ad-
vance north and east OF nearly two
miles. -,
The French lines are nov straight
ened out along the entire frcnt north
and northeast Of Verdun. Virtually
every position of any strength has
been swept behind the French lines
and the troops of the Crown Prince
show no indication Of halting their
retreat to make a stand.
II the French commanders decide TO
press their advantage and continue the
offensive beyond the limits Of Verdun's
defences there is no telling the extent
to which their victories might be
pushed, In the opinion OF military men
here. Whether the great battle OF the
year will develop in this region IN the
near future depends on whether tho
DOl1cy Oh the 10 W PA"y oea~ W
risk all for a decision.
Flank Movement Expected
With the advance Of the French lines
north Of the Somme to a point well
TO the east of Bouchavesnes and
Biaches on the north, there Is little
doubt that the next operation will have
for its purpose the fanking Of both
those positions and the STRENGTHENING
of the French front from the Ssilliset
region south 10 the Peronne sector.
With this carried through success
fully, Foch would be able to strike .
decisive blow at Peropne from the
north, west and south-an operation
which would sweep the stronghold into
the French lines.
The days successes IN the region
west and south of Transloy bring the
development of that position nearer.
Only the desperate resistance OF the
Germans on that stretch Of the Be-
thune road lying to the south Of Tran
sloy has prevented its seizure before
this.
The activity Of British troops on the
east bank Of the Anere presages an at
tack on Bapaume from the southwest.
Grandcourt and Pys cannot hold out
much longer, so close have the British
h.s