The sun., 1916-11-16
FRENCH LINES HOLD
IN FIERCE FIGHTING
Germans Take Offensive in
Great Force on Both Sides
Of SOmme.
BRITISH GAIN SLIGHTLY
Further Advance North Of
Ancrc Reported; Prisoners
Now Total 5,678.

IoSpoN, Nov. 15.-Dcspite the heavy
defeat at the hands Of the British on tho
Ancre the Germans were able to-day to
take the offensive in great strength
against the French on both sides OF the
somme Heavy attacks preceded by
heavy bonibardments succeeded at some
points. but In the main the French lines
held firm
At the close OF the attacks. the French
say, German troops clung to some Of the
French advanced positions on the edge
Of the st. Pierre Vaast wood and other
German troops had forced their way
back into the outskirts OF Pressoire,
which the Germans lost a week ago.
These results were possible only after
the most intense fighting, in which the
French contested to the last every Ger
man attack North OF the Somme the
Germans attacked on a front OF eight
miles Ia the vital lie Transloy- Boucha-
vesnes sector. South Of the Somme the
front was two miles long. In the Allain-
court region. where the fighting always
has been exceptionally bitter.
Under Fire Three Days.
South OF the Somme the French posi-
tons had been under a terrible Are from
German guns for nearly three days.
Their own guns had answered, but the
French positions had been badly mauled
by the German high explosives.
Then when the attack came II was
preceded by storms OF German tear pro-
ducing shells which half blinded the de.
tenders OF the positions. The German
infantry advanced. screened by this BON.
bardment, and preceded by detachments
bearing fame throwers, which the Ger
mans use against the French more than
against the British. The French rife
men and machine guns picked on the
Germans carrying the 'flammenwerfer."
On the British front north OF the Ancrs
some further advance is reported to.
night. The positions won yesterday cas-
OF the important Butte de Wa.lencourt
south of Bapaume. have been strongl!
established. All told 5.s1s prisoners have
been taken by the British since Monda,
morning. when the push began.
German stateme nts,
Tonight there was issued at Berlir
the first German night official statement
II a long time. dealing with the situation
Western Theatre-British attacks
have been carried out on both sides OF
the Ancre. on the southern bank they
are already shattered. Fighting Is pro-
ceeding near Sailly-Saillisel and Pres
soire.
To-day's German statement says:
The battle north OF the Somme con-
tinues. The struggle which went on
mn RI
vcmber II as another day OF n great
battle. The British hoped they could
take advantage OF the success obtained
at the beginning and therefore at
tackled again with strong masses north
Of the Ancre and sev,r raj times be-
tween lie Sars and Gueudecourt. They
succeeded In capturing the village OF
Beaucourt. but on all other portions
OF the extensive front of the attack
the violence Of their assaults broke
down with heavy losses before our
positions.
In the repulse Of the hostile attacks
Magdeburg Infantry Regiment No. Sc
and Bavarian Infantry Regiment No.
ls9 and regiments Of the Fourth
Guards Infantry division especially
distinguished themselves.
The French employed strong forces
IN an effort TO capture st. Pierre
Naast wood. but their attacks were
entirely unsuccessful, ending in a
sangunary defeat.
Teuton Losses Heavy.
The French statement tonight says
ON the Somme front the battle con-
'Inued with violence the whole day.
The enemy made a strong effort with
considerable electives at the same
NJ
The resistance Of our troops held back
the assaults OF their adversaries, who
were able to obtain only limited ad-
vantages at the price Of very heavy
losses
North OF the Somme an attack was
launched after an intense lombard
rnent. against our positions from Les
Ro.ufs to the south Of BOuchavesnes.
The enemy succeeded In gaining foot
hold in our advanced elements In the
northern corner and western outskirts
of St Pierre Vast Wood. Every
where else our machine gun fre and
harrage fire checked the attempts OF
the enemy.
South OF the river the Germans re-
newed their attacks in the course OF
the afternoon on the front OF Ablain'
court and the Chaulnes Wood. The
struggle, carried on with obstinacy
ended in the repl.se of the Germans
who were obliged to return to thei'
trenches after sanguinary losses. en-
cept In the eastern part OF the village
nj presscire, where they were able Il
make progress.
There was an intermittent cannon
all on the rest OF the front
Belgian commandments
raid on the German trenches at Dix
nude, prisoners were brought bacl
10 our lines In the course OF the dal
'horr was considerable artillery ac
t,.ty on the whole front OF the Bel
gan army,
5,O7s Prisoners Taken.
The British statement OF tonight fo
lows;
During the day we further advanced
our front north OF the Ancre
The prisoners taken since Monda!
morning have reached total OF 5.67s.
The troops employed have show
conspicuous skin. dash and fortitude
Our success was not won withou
hard struggle. az the enemy re
ss;ed strongly and as conditions o
the ground greatly increased the dim
Guilty Of attack. Our losses. consid
":ing the exten, OF our gains. nav
not hren high, One division advance
mile and took over 1000 prisoner
OF the expense OF $50 casualties.
South II the Ancre we establishe
the positions won yesterday east q
Butt" lie WarlcncOurt. The enemy
maosiug at one point for counte
attack, was dispersed by our artil
lery fire.