The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-06-30
BRITISH HAMMER
GERMAN LINES
Berlin Sees Long Expected Allied
Drive on West Front.
FRENCH GAIN AT VERDUA
British Make Violent Artillery Attacks.
Germans Feel Strong, Steady Press
ure All Along Front.

London, June 29.-Despatche from
the British front in Fran and Fin.
ders lay emphasis upon The inten=ity
Of the bombardment wnicn is being
brought to bear upon the German
Inns.
The French are holding their own
north of Verdun where continued Ger
man attacks in the Thiaumont and
F1eury sectors were completely
checked by the artillery AMI infantry
fire of General Nivelles forces, &C
cording to the bulletin from Paris.
A despatch from British headquar-
ters in France says:
British guns continue the bonn
bardment over a broad front which
was begun Sunday. The correspon-
dent, riding seventy miles behind the
lines, found the same regular pound
ing of position on both days, whether
in the Somme region or along the
Vimy ridge.
Going to a point on high ground
which allowed a broad sweep of Wis
ion in a rolling country, or forward
to observation posts in the trenches,
the correspondent found the horizon
always pounded by shell bursts. There
might be a lull at one point for a
while. but soon the inferno in that di,
rectiOn was renewed.
Under cover of the bonn ar 'ment
the British made numerous trench
raids, bringing in groups of prisoners.
The British released gas at certain
points, but discontinued this when the
weather was found to be unfav lble.' u
The intensified artillery actvi y on
the British line is believed in Berlin
to herald the long expected great
British drive.
German military circles are calmly
confident that Great Britain's great.
est effort will meet the fate of the
previous offensives, but there Is keen
interest to see Kitchener's new arm
les in action.
The general opinion is that SUI
preme test of strength between the
British and German armies during the
coming summer will mark the eli
of perhaps decisive military events OF
all fronts, peace talk has never beer
so dead as it is today, says the Der,
lin despatch.
The present British offensive is TAX,
ing the form Of steady pressure
against the German line. Adopting
the German methods, the British are
pounding away at the German posi-.
lions night and day with heavy artil'
lery and no infantry attack is made
until the way has been effectually
prepared with shell fire.
French military critics warn the
people not to expect any spectacula
advance at the northern end of the
line 1t may be weeks, military men
say, before the German lines break
beneath the constant pounding Of the
ENench and British guns. Premier
BRAND, who has just returned to Paris
from a visit to the headquarters OF
General Haig, the British commander.
is deeply impressed with the prepare.
tiOns made for the drive, particularly
the great amount of heavy artillery
massed and the huge supplies OF
shells.
The French press and public are IN.
tensely interested in the simultaneous
forward movement by the Italians and
the Russians, and the current express
sion is assuming a tone of elation and
confidence The Temps, in its sum.
ming up Of the military situation
says:
'It is now the turn of the Germans
to be harried cease'essly with the ex
plosive shell. Today they are no
.onger the masters"