South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-15
Maintain Positions in leu
tons Second Line OefenSeS
Despite Terrific COun-
ter Assaults.
HUNDRED CUT OFF IN
WOODS ARE RESCUED
Men Dig Themselves in and
Wait Return Of Comrades
Despite Shortage OF
Water and RationS.
International News Service


AT THE BRITISH FRONT IN
FRANCE, July IA. 10 p. m. via Lon
don. July 15.-At this writing. at the
end of a long days unbroken strug-
gle. rumors indicate that the British
are holding their gains from morn
I ing when a front of about four miles
was attacked along the second Ger
man line of trenches. though the
! Germans counter attacked violently.
Infantry that went in shortly be-
fore dawn expected the most de-
termined resistance and to pay "A
high toll in casualties. Their eX-
perience gained in many night
trench raids served as excellent prep
aration for the daring action in the
moonlight over a long front where
the most minute coordination was
necessary for success.
Small Number of Wounded.
AS an unexpected small number Of
wounded came into the clearing sta
tions in the morning hours. many
being carried by German prisoners
acting as stretcher bearers. the sat
isfaction over the news that three
villages had been taken increased.
Prisoners said that no attack had
been expected and that the assault
before day light was a complete sur
prise.
The British rushed into the sham
bles of Trones woods, where the
Germans had regained a small po-
sition, sweeping from one side to
the other through the tangled and
fallen trunks. against persistent
sniping and machine gun fire and
under conditions where it was diff
cult TO tell friend from foe.
Here 100 men, left when the Brit
ish were forced out. were rescued.
Though short of water and ratiOns
they built barbados and dug shell
tiers among the roots and refused TO
counter-attack would effect their
rescue.
Among them were wounded who
were unable to stand. but who could
still fire their rifles.
Hail Their Rescuers.
As they saw the dim figures in
khaki coming TO their rescue they
set up a shout:
This way! Are We down
hearted?"
The advance was a frontal sweep
up the slopes into the second line
and the two Bezantine villages and
Longueval. The gun fire this time
seems TO have left only one point in
the trenches where the machine
guns were not out of action. and
the demolition was complete. Here
for a space Of two hundred Yards
the tide o. English went past while
the Germans in this section OF
trenches refused TO yield and for
some time desperately held out in a
fashion characteristic of the kind of
fighting that is marking the Somme
battle
Prisoners taken belonged 10 bat
talions OF different divisions husned
10 the scene after July and seemed
10 lack the usual efficient organiza-
ton.
British Continue Forward.
The British carried on beyond the
second line when they found the
prisoners and seeking TO gain higher
going good. taking guns and more
points on the ridge The Germans
began TO develop stronger resistance
against these advance parties
The mornings success which gives
the British a depth of ground won
in this sector since July from
three 10 four miles. also means the
command Of positions which OBJ
viOusly places the German lines In
the Thiepval sector in a bad salient
Practically all of the detectives were
taken in less than an hour and two
German colonies and a regimentaI
stan officer and other prisoners
found themselves in British hands
before daylight had fairly broken.
Feeble Artillery Duets.
SALONIKI. July 15.-Friday's op-
erations along the Macedonian front
were confined 10 infantry reconnais-
sances and feeble artillery duels IL
was announced at the allies head
quarters today. The French troops
in field and barracks celebrated
"Bastile day" the British troops also
participating.