Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-08-08
Hold All Ground Gained
Around Pozieres Despite
Attacks
TOWN is IMPORTANT
German Soldiers Told its Possession
is Precious Advantage to English
Troops

Paris, Aug 8.--German troops un
der the crown prince recaptured the
strongly fortified Thiaumont WORK
northeast of Verdun in most pow
crfrl assault early this morning, j
was officially announced at the wal
Office today. A bloody battle is still
raging around the redoubt.
Following q night of terrific BON
tardment, the Germans directed f"e
most violent attacks against the
French positions from Fleury village
to the Thiaumont position. Very large
forces were employed IN these attacks
Which were continued regardless Of
heavy losses.
ct Fleury village the Germans
were completely repulsed, suffering
heavily. By repeated onslaughts a
Teutonic force finally fought its way
into the Thiaumont work, which was
recaptured last week by the French
in their counter-offensive
London, Aug. 8-The British drove
the Germans back yesterday around
Pozieres, while on both the Somme
and Meuse the French continued
to make gains.
An entire line of German defenses
on, half mile front, from the wood
north of Hem to the Somme, was
captured in a spectacular assault by
General Foch's troops.
On the Verdun front, General Nj
velle threw his forces forward in
new attacks, in which further gain
was registered south of the Thiaumont
work and more fortified houses in
Fleury were taken.
The Germans, for more than 18
hours, have been striving desperate,
y to develop a counter offensive
against the British. but all their at
tempts have met with failure. Pre-
ceding the five furious attacks yester-
day, numerous attempts were made
Sunday night to penetrate trenches
east of Pozieres. General Haig re.
ported last night that the English
troops held all the ground gained ir
Sundays attacks.
On the Verdun front during the
night the Germans also determinedly
launched attack after attack, only tt
be repulsed by the French barrier anc
machine-gun fire. Beth at Thiaumont
and in the Vaux- Chapitre woods, the
German infantry was sent forward
after strong artillery preparation
only to be driven back without hay
ing gained foot of ground.
During the day the French ano
British captured a number Of Ger.
man prisoners and took Is machine
guns. Three more German aeroplane:
have been shot down, according to 6
Paris statement. French bombardine
squadrons during the night carried
out extensive operations behind thu
German front, and Berlin admits some
damage was done by the aerial bonn
bardment to the great fortress Of
Metz. :
According to the statement ISSUED
by the German Army Headquarter.
at Berlin. German troops have re
captured portions of the trench which
had been taken by the British nea
Pozieres, on the Somme front.
Paris, Aug. s-A dispatch to l.
Liberte, dated North of France, says
"The Germans yesterday furiousl
counter attacked positions taken tn
day before by the British: north o
Pozieres, An order had been given t
the units in the Pozieres sector to re
take from the British, at whateve
cost, hill $50, as shown by the orde
of the day issued by General Won Bue
low and read to the trops yesterday
The order said:
"We must at whatever price rs
gain possession of the Pozieres pl:
teau which, if it remains in the hanc
of the English, would give them
precious advantage. Attacks will
led by successive waves separated
a distance of eighty meters. Trool
10