Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-24
BATTLE ON RIVER SOMME
ENTERS IFS FOURTH WEEK
Allies Satisfied With Progress Made
and Are Confident Of
Further Successes.
2e,ooo PRISONERS IN JULY
Many Cannon and Hundreds Of
Machine Guns Captured-Bad
Weather Gives French a
Quiet Night.

LONDON, July "a, 1:5o pm.
troops have captured a
large part of the village of
Pozieres, says the official British
statement issued this afternoon.
They also gained some ground
near High wood in the direction
of Guillemont. Australian and
New Zealand forces had a pro-
nounced part in the attack.
The night, the statement adds,
was comparatively calm.
Text Of British Report.
The statement follows:
Apart from continuous heavy she'll
ing by both sides during the night
comparative calm followed the severe
fighting of yesterday.
Yesterday between Highwood and
Guillemont repeated counter attacks by
the enemy gained for him no advan-
tage, and very heavy casualties were
inflicted by our artillery and machine
gun FIRE.
I'VE gained some ground near High
wood, and in the direction of Guile
mont In the neighborhood OF Posieres
we secured important advantages in
spite of the stubborn defense Of the
enemy. and a large portion of the vii
lage is now in our hands. Here We
have captured two guns and sixty more
prisoners"
Fourth Week Opens Well
The fourth week of the Somme battle
began well for the entente allies and is
expected to be fruitful of important de-
Before Saturday midnight
the British began a new attack on the
whole line from Pozieres to Guillemont.
and the fact that Gen. Haig has been
able to resume the offensive so soon
after the unsuccessful German counter
attacks of last week. in which very
strong German forces were brought
forward, is regarded as a good augury.
The fighting has been of the fiercest
character. the Germans working with
their utmost strength to prevent the
British from advancing to their third
line positions. But the Australians have
firmly established themselves in Po-
zieres and are<reported to have placed
astride the road in the d.
rection of Bapaume, while at Guilie-
mont and Longueval fortunes iuctu-
ated, both places changing hands sew
eral times Late last night fighting
was proceeding with the utmost vio- :
lence.
The German counter attacks recently
delivered against the French front
have proved equally unsuccessful, and
the entente allies now are fighting
slowly in the direction of Combles.
which is only two miles distant from
Guillemont.
According to reliable estimate, the
British and French together have
captured since July l more than $4,000
prisoners. 140 guns and hundreds Of
guns.
A Reuter- dispatch from the British
front in France filed at $3.50 pm. yes
terday says:
After a heavy bombardmeft last
night British troops and Anzacs at
lacked toward Pozieres and Guillemont.
Despite desperate resistance, the An.
sacs succeeded in establishing them
selves in Pozieres, where they now are
their lines. 1t is report
ID that the casualties were compare.
lively light.
West of Pozieres the British sue
advanced. On the right of
nsufficiently destroyed. and progress
was checked by heavy
Machine gun fire. Nevertheless. we
yained a footing in Guillemont. but
We were unable to maintain the ad-
vance.
''On the whole our progress contin-
les satisfactory. especially in the
DAD through the village northward. on
which we are reported as esta ablished."
Quiet on French Front.
PARIS, July "a. noon-Bad weather
,revails along the Somme front in
orthern France. and last night passed
uietly with the French troops there.
he war office announced today.
IN a raid near vailly, north of the
isne. German trenches were pene-
rated and some prisoners taken.
ON the Verdun front east of the
,euse there were small local engage
feuse there were small local engage
'rench took thirty prisoners. making
ne total taken prisoner during the last
IN days in this district 500.
Sub Lieut.. Chaput of the aviation
orps brought down his eighth hostile
eroplane near Fresnes in the Woevre
egion.
The text of the statement follows:
oficial French Statement.
.'On the Somme front the night was
lin. The weather continued bad.
North of the Aisne reconnoitering
lrties penetrated enemy trenches neax