Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-28
"cIvE us WEATHER like THIS '-''- : !
and LET US PUSH on" PRAYER
OF WcT0RS after C0MbtES' FALL
Most Picturesque of All Somme Offensive Was Most Hard
British Discover Hardest Point observation-disclosures Seem
toGive Up Without Much Resistance When Approached -
Gave Impression Would Rather Save Guns Than Men

| British Front in France, Sept. &-(Via
London, Sept. N.-The capture of Com
| bles was one Of the most picturesque in
cidents in the whole course Of the great
Somme offensive. 1t marked the opening
Of today's forward surge of the British
and French forces which reached it's cli-
max in the capture of Gueulecourt and
Thiepval.
All night long bitter fighting had been
in progress at various points along the
front, and with dawn the battle broad
ened to include the whole British left
Combles fell as the sun rose on a perfect
summer day. Sitting in the midst Of
heap of hills, the town was isolated yes
terday by the seizfng of the high ground
on either side by the French and British.
In the early hours of the morning the
British took an orchard in the northern
outskirts and then, after very prelimi-
nary shelling, they charged the trenches
on the edge of the village. The trenches
were empty when they reached them. AT
the same time the French, dashing for
ward on the other side of the village,
pushed victoriously forward into the heart
of the village. In the main street the
soldiers of the two nations met and Joy
ously shook hands, calling out to each
other: "Parley vous" and HOW aye
do"
German Prisoners
Combles had labyrinth of dugouts
and we'll fortified cellars but at the
last practically no defence was made.
Those Germans who had not managed
to escape when the town was hopeless
ly surrounded were taken prisoner. One
lot Of Germans who were endeavoring
to find way out through the encircling
allied infantry walked into the Brit
ish skirmishing line. The cellars and
dugouts Of the village were full Of
wounded.
Having clearing Combles of any stray
Germans, the British and French NOV
ed on side by side to further attacks.
One Of the most striking features of
the fighting last night and today was
the Surprisingly slight resistance offer
ed at Morval and Combles by .the Ger
mans according to all reports made by
the British officers. The Germans made
| the usual counter attacks against the
British new positions last night, but the
| reports Of the allied officers to head
| quarters agree that they lacked spirit.
Some German trenches taken yesterday
were lightly occupied or not at all. In
| other instances the allied commanders
| stated that considerable bodies Of Ger
mans threw down their rifles as soon
as the attackers approached their
| trenches, although 1t was known that
| they had orders to stand to the last.
| Batches of prisoners have been coming
| in from all parts Of the front throughout
| the day.
The Strongest Point
In their attack yesterday the British
found the strongest defense made in
front Of Guedecourt. There the Ger
mans used their machine guns with the
| tenacity-and unyielding courage which
has hitherto characterized them. The
British resumed the attack today and
tonight all the village is in their pos
session. Both today and yesterday the
Geramns showed an inclination to
withdraw their guns Immediately they
were in any danger. evidently desiring
to take no risk of losing any of their
artillery. This sometimes leaves their
troops in the front line unprotected by
cannon fire and may account for the
number of surrenders.
In the meantime the British