Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-15
GREAT TASK AGAINST FOE
ONLY BARELY STARTED
Action of Second Big Stage of Bat
tie of Somme Is Thrilling
Spectacle.
DESCRIBED BY AN EYEWITNESS
Even Phlegmatic British Generals
and Staff Officers Show Eiation
Over Results of Night Attack
Against German Lines.

BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE. JULY
II. IL ~. NJ tvia London). Even the
phlegmatic British generals ana staff
oihcers are showing elaticn over the
results this morning of the night at
tack against the German second line
although careful to state that the great
task against powerful foe is only
barely started. Soon after daylight the
joyful news of the British success
slipped into telephone message over
the area occupied by the British army
AS spectacle tc an eyewitness. this
action of the second big stage Of the
battle OF the Somme surpassed that of
July l. Taking needed ground for or
SanizlnE new trenches. and throwing
out small parties, who dug then, selves
H. the army has been gradually gain
ing position from Ovillers. La
hoiSelie and Montauban. a distance of
four miles. from watch to deliver /,
plow. and AT many points were within
200 yards of the German second line
Meanwhile the shells of the British ar
tiiicrN could he seen cutting the wire
and making thorough preparations of
which General Sir Douglas Ha:g, The
British commander. insists there is eyi.
dcnce on every hand
Tomorrow morning at three" came
the laconic word Yesterday eyonine
preceded by the usual intensive nrc.
liminary bombardment, only a LITTLE
hotter"
The fam; moonlight enabled tho
snnnerS dmly to see their work tho
infantry ana the contour Of the ground
seemingly as the observer got close 70
the German line. there was the great,
est concentration OF guns Battery af
| Re, Ter battery was shooting at high speed
] "A
less understandable than the thrilling
suggestion Of the waiting infantry bat
talon lines which were seen going
mo positions before the battle
NO INTERVALS IN THUNDERS
As GUNS MOVE FORWARD
At the moment the assault started, il
seemed there was no interval i'm the
thunders AS tho guns moved forward,
their curtain Of Shcll-bursts in front
of the first wave Of infantry advancing
across the zone between their trenches
and the German lines
In the direction of Longueval a biz
hre was seen 1t was the village or
storehouse burning. Then went a
rocket signal light which gave the
positions gained in the attack This
method of communication is "A difficult
part of the business of directing an
army under cover OF darkness
At the first flush of dawn the first
British aerop!ane came humminE from
its aerodromc toward the German
lines. and the sausage shaped ohScrva-
ti"n balloons arose together into the
air in a vague scene Of oblonr and
GrotcsQue monsters
While the smoke barees from the
British lines were carried by favor
able winds and the shells made other
points of the line mdistinct the ridge
"f IonCueval where the British bur
al ri IL.
positions and a stubborn. cunning and
brave roe, was seen distinctly to he
III their possession. More lines of
troops were moving through the Ger
man curtains of shell fire to the sun
port OF those who had gained the hot
~ desired summit, and now were
looking down HILL where the German
Guns ar" hidden aud with the Bapaumc
ridG" in the distance Behind them
an was the organization which had
plotted the action OF the army. and
back Of those were battal!uns await
ing their orders