Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-06
FRENCH CONTINUE
TO RETAKE TOWNS
Capture Three Lines of Trenches,
Penetrating to Depth of
1000 Yards.
POINTED WEDGE is SQUARED
Foch Will Hammer German De-
fenses Until Combles, Peronne
and Bapaume Fall.


and Bapaume Fall.
PARIS. September 5-The smashing
blows which General Foch has dcliv-
cred north and south Of the Somme in
a week have transformed the pointed
square block which will hammer Cen
eral Won Gallwitzs defcnses till Com
bles. Peronne and Bapaune fall and
the German retreat from the Noyon
salient is "a military necessity imposed
by the allies, independently OF Him
denburg's new strategy.
The secret OF the whole French sue
cesses this summer is the magnificent
Us" being made of the innuincrablc
heavy guns and the mountains Of shells
which Munitions Minister Thomas had
budgeted fer the end of last year
The production only recently reached
the proportions which the general staff
calculated as necessary to roll back the
Teuton army.
General Foch is holding his latest
gains. not with the bayonet but with
field and machine guns. stan officer
told me. The predominant role OF the
infantry masses is not to storm
trenches but merely to occupy them
after guns havo located their where
abouts. and not to lose their strength
in hand-to-hand combats. but merely
TO consolidate the captured lines while
the gunners and the riachine sections
prevent the Germans reapproaching
| their lost grounds.
Herein lies the whcle difference be-
tween the Somme battle and the Arras
ana Champagne offensive of last year
Generals Joffrc ana Haig decline to
make any verbal reply to the German
allegation with which the United States
was flooded last month. tha, the Somme
offensive is played out. aud that the
allies are wantonly sacrificing human
life that the defense has been so per-
fected since the drive ocgan that 1t
is useless to attempt to urcak through.
Ent they intend TO make such alleSa-
tions ridiculous before September is
ended
FfNE-HOUR STRUGGLE.
ADVANTAGEOUS no ALLIES
with the extension of the battle TO
the south of the Somme yesterday, the
armies were locked in five-hour
struggle. the upshot of which was a
distincf gain for the allies. The battle
field is divided into two sectors. The
first part is the front from Thiepvai
TO the south OF Clery. held by the
French British contingcnts, the two
forces joining hands around Falfemont
farm. The ob5sc i've OF this Great army
is Combles. from which town the Brit
Ia a let
French are only quarter OF mile
away.
General Foch's reports do not hide
the fact that the Germans are going
to put up terrific fight before they
let go of such an important position
They already have consented to heavy
sacrifices 10 save Comhles by a counter
attack against the French east of lie
Forest. under harrage fire.
The other sector of the battle field
runs from the Somme River 10 Chaulnes
which is now in German hands Before
Peronnc can he tackled the German line
south OF the Somme must be driven in,
and yesterdays successful onslaught
along twclve-milc front was prepara-
tory 10 the development of pcronnc
Southwest OF Barlcux the French
captured three lines of trenches. pene-
tratinS To depth OF 2.0OA yards, while
further south a fierce attack gave Cen
eral Foch the villages OF Soyecourt and
Chilly. bringing the number of VILLAGES
retakcn since July I up to twcnty-nine.
Between Ncrmandovillcrs and Maui
court the first line was carried along
two and half miles. and the defenses
were pierced north Of Chilly after four
hours of bloody fighting. which re-
suited In the development OF l.20O Ger
mans with cannon and machine guns
and the capture OF the village
FRENCH CARRY HiI.I. no. SO
IN DESPiRATE ASSAULT
Pursuing their advantage. the French
carried hill No. ST by assault The
maximum depth of the push here was
one mile which carried them to the
outskirts OF tho woods west OF
Chaulncs. which. like Comhie$. is i'm
imminent danger of falling. although
both towns arc bristlins with the best
defense works the Germans have been
able TO construct.
That General Won Ciallwitz fully cx-
pectcd Il great blow To fall in the region
of ChaulncS is demonstrated by the fact
that he ordered General Won Helm. who
Is in charge Of this sector. to discngage
the town and furnished troops for six
furious immediate counterattacks, all
OF which broke down lamcntably. the
Teutons being unable TO penetrate the
deadly harrages.
Tile weather has been absolutely
against a revival of the offensive this
week Phenomenal rains have fallen
since the preliminary cannonade began,
compelling the suspension Of the artii-
Ia ,,i iNin b, Il
ditional time to meet the infantry at
tncks. However. the troops have not
been launched until air photographs
showed that all obstacles had been
razed. In recent months Photographic
observations from aeroplanes have
vastly improved, and with their air
command the French arc able to OBJ |