Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-12
GERMANS BRING UP
MANY NEW TROOPS
TO OPPOSE BRITISH
Regain Ground in Mametz and
Trones Woods; Are Re-
pulsed Elsewhere.
TWO ATTACKS AT VERDUN
FAIL BEFORE FRENCH FIRE
Successful Raids Made by French
Forces in the Champagne
and Lorraine.
RESULTS OF STEADY BLOWS
British Have Taken Whole of First
System of German Defenses
Along Eight-Mile Front
on the Somme.
TWO ATTACKS AT VERDUN
FAIL BEFORE FRENCH FIRE
RESULTS OF STEADY BLOWS

LONDON, July II, AZ pm
The Germans, heavily reinforced,
delivered strong attacks against
the British on the Somme front
last night They gained ground
in Mametz wood and Trones
wood.
An official announcement is
sued here this afternoon says that
all the German attacks were
beaten off except in Mametz and
Trones woods.
"sSince the commencement of
the battle the enemy has received
large reinforcements," the an
nouncement says. esterday
and last night strong hostile at
tacks were made against several
points of Our new positions. EN-
cept in Mametz wood and Trones
wood, in both of which localities
the Germans regained some
ground, all these attacks we're
beaten off, with loss to the
enemy
Raid by Irish Fusiliers.
Between the main battlefield and
the sea we have been actively engaged
in bombarding the enemy's positions
and raiding his front line. Southeast
of Loos party of Royal Irish Fusiliers
penetrated the enemy's trenches at a
point where they We're strongly held
and remained there for twenty min
utes. during which time heavy fighting
took place in. the trenches. Many Ger
mans were killed. Our casualties were
slight
"Opposite the Hohenzollern redoubt
two companies of Seaforth Highlanders
forced their way into another portion
of the enemy's trenches after stif
fight Many Germans were killed or
wounded A hostile machine gun was
destroyed Several dugouts crowded
with the enemy were successfully
bombed and some prisoners were taken
Several combats in the air took
place July 10. as result of which we
destroyed one German machine, while
one of our own machines was brought
down by the enenlys gunfire.
Struggles for Trones Wood.
Trones wood has been the scene of
some of the hardest fighting on the
British front. After desperate counter
attacks the Germans had gained a
footing there. but yesterday the Brit
ish cleaned them out of all but the
northernmost end of the wood. The
new German counter offensive last
night followed.
Although the extent of ground which
has been gained by the British often
sive is not great, there is general sat
isfaction in England at the success
attained by the army of Gen. Haig dur
ing the twelve days of fighting, and
the belief exists that the adjusted
positions now occupied Will make pos
sble greater achievements. The cap
ture of Contalmaison, Mametz and
Trones wood gives the British line
running almost due east and west, SO
that the Germans to the north can be
are brought up for the second phase
of the operations. To the south of the
river the French are in a position
somewhat similar to the British and
likewise can attack the German flank
south of Belloy and Estrees: For the
moment. however. the two armies are
engaged in preparing their new posi-
tions
Gains on Eight-Mile Front.
Capture of the whole of the Ger
mans first system of defense on
front of $4,000 yards (nearly eight
miles), after ten days and nights of
lighting, was announced in
Yesterdays official report from British
in France. The number
Of prisoners taken exceeds 1900.
The capture of Hill 81. south Of the
with the farm called La Mai
sonnette on the summit was particu-
|arly brave piec, of work on the part
Of the French, After receiving the
TOUR lines of trenches virtually without
oa use, but it was then that the greatest
iifficulties had to be overcome.
The farm at this point was guarded
Nv whole series of barbed-wire in
defended by mortars. ma
,hine guns, automatic rifles and bomb
hrowers. Twice the assaulting forces
to the aarm. 1 % Twice ice tney
nto the farm itself it was to find
themselves in front of a number of
machine guns.
furious hand combat follow
d. ending in a victory for the French.
The extent to which the hill was forti-
led can be judged by the fact that at
ne earthwork half way up the slope
leyen mitrailleuses in working order
we're captured. while twenty others had
,een destroyed by the French lombard
nent.
Attacks at Vercft1u Fail