The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-07-08
ALLIES TAKE INITIATIVE ON ALL
FRONTS
Anglo- French Drive on Western Front
Russia Continues Heavy Offensive
in East


than 100000 shells are declared to have
been fired daily, what is thought by many
to be the supreme offensive Of the allies
was launched at 7 80 on the morning Of
July 1, by the British and French against
the Germans, along the western front in
France and Belgium.
For some weeks reports have been cur
rent in England and France that the big
drive Of the British was about to begin, it
being stated that England had 100000
men fully equipped and trained in prepa-
ration for the supreme effort to break the
German lines. Whether the present ac-
tion is in reality the great drive, or wheth
er it is merely for the purpose of reliev-
ing the pressure on Verdun, remains to
be seen. However, at present writing a
violent battle has been raging for nearly a
week on both sides of the Somme river.
Two hours after the British troops
had moved forward on July 1, they had
captured about 16 miles Of German for
ward trenches, and further gains have
since been made. At some points the
French have gone so far that they have
penetrated beyond the mesh Of German
entrenchments, and the fighting has as
sumed an open character. The territory
acquired, however, has been very small in
comparison to that of the great Russian
offensive on the eastern front, but it is
we'll to remember that rods on the western
line count for almost as much as miles
along the Austrian border.
On July 5, it was reported that total
Of $4,000 prisoners had been taken in the
Anglo-F'rench offensive, and it was esti-
mated that the German losses amounted
to at least 10000 men,
Of significant Importance in the eyes
Of observers is the fact that the initiative
on all fronts is now with the allies for the
first time since the beginning Of the war
The swift drive Of the Russian forces
on the eastern front has been attended by
a degree of success which has created
astonishment. The total number of pris-
| oners taken from June 6 to June %, ac-
cording to official announcements from
Petrograd, is $4,000 men. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that Germany has thrown
strong opposing forces in this region,
Russian cavalry patrols are reported to
have crossed the Carpathean mountains,
from Kimpolung in Bukowina, and enter
ed Hungarian territory. All along the
Russian front engagements Of the sever
est character are in progress Not only
has this been the case in Galicia but in
the North
On July l it was announced that the
Russians had captured the town of Kolo-
mea, in eastern Galicia, the loss of this
city, with it's five railways and six high
roads seriously threatening the rear Of
the Austrian army. They have now cut
the Delatyn-Korosmezo railway, the prin-
cipal line of communication for the Aus
tro- German forces defending Lemberg,
the city which was won by the TeutOns
last year at such enormous cost
The swift progress of Russia's west
ward drive, we are told, is due to the fact
that Japan, during the past months, has
been supplying her with enormous guam
titles of ammunition The Russian forces
are under the command of Gen. Alexis A.
Brussilloff, whose sweeping successes have
led one editorial observer to state that
'snot even the great Hindenberg himself
has displayed finer strategy or struck the
enemy more tremendous blows"
On the Italian front the central powers
have also met with reverses, if reports
are correct 1t is well to keep in mind,
however, that nearly all reports published
in the daily press are given out by Lon
don, Paris, Petrograd, or Rome. Berlin
issues very few statements of any kind,
and her official reports are very brief. So
| far, the Anglo-French drive seems to have
had very little effect in lessening the pres
sure on Verdun, and the Germans have
continued to make slow but steady ad-
vances.
Berlin. SCOTS at the gains of the allies
on the western front, which have occupied
so much attention during the past week.
Major Moraht, in the Tageblatt, calls the
Anglo-French successes Every scanty"
He writes:
'sThe critical moment for the success Of
a great attempt to breach line is the
time between the beginning Of the enemy