New-York tribune., 1916-07-09
British Sweep On at
Contamination and
OVillerS.
5000 GERMANS
TAKEN IN WEEK
Allies Lose Heavily-Aim
to Cut Big Teuton
s&.-s.-
tBy Casi, 70 The T4bun.

have resumed the attack. With the
British on the north hammering
steadily at the line they weakened
yesterday, the French began their
second assault in the fierce battle in
Picardy.
Rain that made the ground heavy
and fog that dimmed the enemy's
trenches and spread a screen be-
fore the German guns failed TO
check the advance. The vigor of
the first days rush has not been
lost.
The French forces wrested Hard.-
court and Mamelon from the Ger
mans and so forced a way close TO
the railway that runs from Combles
to Peronne, the immediate goal of
the Allied offensive on the Somme.
Meanwhile, the British again as
sailed the Thiepval- Montauban line.
where they succeeded yesterday in
dislodging the German wedge CEN
tring on Contalmaison. They won
the Bois de Trones and a farm
southeast of the wood and advanced
near Ovillers.
British Advance Half a Mile.
Reports from the British front relate
that in this attack Haig's troops pushed
onward along a considerable front and
penetrated to depth of half a mile.
At Contalmaison. too, these reports as
sert, the British made considerable
progress.
Thus. while the Russians, on the long
line from Pripet 70 Bukowina, keep up
their relentless offensive, both armies
on the West are attacking in full force.
In both Russia and France the Teuton
lines are being slowly pressed back,
and the great German dilemma, which
arose when Allied armies assailed Teu-
ton lines on two fronts at the same
time, becomes more pressing daily.
The Germans are resisting fercely on
both fronts. There seems little doubt
that this Allied drive in the West. which
must proceed through a maze OF
trenches and works fortified with twen-
ty months work, makes progress at
heavy cost. The Crown Princes attack
on verdun proved how expensive were
such operations.
British Losses Heavy.
Berlin tells how enormous numbers
of British dead remained before the
German positions yesterday after the
artillery and machine guns had torn
ghastly holes in the masses of British
troops rushing against the German
positions. But all reports from the
front agree that the heavy toll has
not lessened the vigor Of the assault.
This is attested TO by the French
official statement tonight. "ln thirty
five minutes" it says, "our infantry,
by reason OF lNt FtSVi VI NhN oNN@~'t
was in possession OF the objects aimed
at"
The gains the Allied forces made to-
day have aided in clearing the way for
the resumption Of the attack on Pc
rome. Until the British wiped out the
! Thiepval- -Contalmaison wedge, yester-
day, the French were unable TO ad-
vance, for their flank was unprotected.
Aim at German Wedge.
Between Hardecourt and Clery there
runs another German wedge, and until
this is eliminated the frontal attack
on Peronne must wait. With the
ground north cleared b. the British,
the French were able TO attack this
wedge to-day. They loosened it, and
the next assault will probably drive it
out. Then the advance on Peronne
directly from the west csn be resume1
at Boscourt. :,
According to reports from Holland,
Belgium has been denuded Of German
soldiers to meet the Anglo-Frcnch Of
fensive, md the railway ptstions. even