The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-10
A HALF-MILE
GAIN IN FRANCE
Losses of the Allies Heavy in
Present Drive Against
the Germans
FRENCH POSITION
CONTINUES STRONG
Germans Surrender Readily
Destructive Power of I
French l6-Inch Guns

| London, July lU.-Accofding 10 th'
Reuter- correspondent at the press camp
of the British army in France, the Brit
ish Saturday, on considerable front
advanced half a mile in conjunction with
the French. They also made consider.
able progress at Contamination, where the
position is satisfactory.
The French in an attack on Harde-
court and Mamelon gained the desired
positions in a little more than half an
hour. The Germans counter attacked
twice against the Mamelon positions but
were repulsed. The French inflicted
heavy losses and took 260 prisoners. Ar
tillery bombardments continue around
Nerdun
A heavy preliminary bombardment by
the British was followed by an infantry
attack which gained footing in a
strongly defended German position known
as the Bots de Trones. The Germans at.
tempted a strong counter attack to re.
gain this position but, according TO the
British official statement, il broke down
under the British fire.
There seems little doubt that the Ger.
mans have needed all their readily avail.
able reserves against the British in north
ern France and are making General
Hsig's forces pay dearly for whatever
successes they win. Berlin does not con
cede the gains claimed by the British in
hair off 20 rnlnaa tha Ito NJ
centering upon Contamination. and de-
clares that enormous numbers of British
dead were left on the ground before the
German positions in this sector after the
fire from the Teutonic artillery and ma
chine guns had torn into the masses OF
troops advancing to the attack.
German troops on both sides OF the
Somme in the field of the entente often.
sive along the western front have re
pulsed with heavy losses repeated attacks |
by the British and French. the war Office |
in Berlin Saturday.
A despatch from Paris at D. m. Sat |
urday says that the new French front |
before Peronne appears to have been for
titled now so as to facilitate thanking |
southwark and widening OF
the position already conquered French
infantry inaugusated this operation Fri.
day by successful attacks in the region OF
Belov en- Santerre. where $50 Germans
were made prisoner, and east of Estrees,
where 80 men were left in French hands
after an assault on communicating
trench.
1T was most business like" said an
we witness. "The French infantry
Jumped out of the trenches and set to
work with as much celebrity in their
Methods as if occupied with task that
lad become second nature. Neither was
here much dallying on the part of the
Germans. who. perhaps had been inn
'ressed by what had been going on north
II them during the last few days. The f.;
french had scarcely reached the first line ,
Il their adversaries when the Germans
we're seen climbing out of the trenches I
n clusters with their hands up and r
double quick time toward the d
'rench trenches.
"'The war is finished The war is fin
;hed!" cried many of them with their /
aces expanding into smiles as they t
saped into the French communicating n
renehes and filed back to the rear be
ween lines of more French troops wait
lg for the word to take their turn in =
he assault The prisoners then cried y
Or water and bread. The privates gen J.
rally did not conceal their satisfaction = !.
! finding tranquility at the rear of the y,
rench lines. Only the officers and sub :,
terms We're downcast" :,
Work on the perfecting of the works :.
sgan 20 months ago on the German side :.
the front and went on until the last -
mute, according to prisoners. At some
onts, dugouts 40 feet deep were ar "
ored with concrete and fitted with all ),
lie comforts OF home. Eve were safe" VI
i'd one prisoner, until the new French Is
ms got the range. Then it took only % %
lie monster shell to undo the results of
months of patient labor" No doubt q !,
e prisoner referred to the new French 81
-inch gun. These formidable engines in p
e hands OF the French have proven so ~
INDY and so strong in execution that "A
ey are far ahead of the German 42's. Ut