New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02


rerous for the Allies. tho British guns
began 20 speak. Since then, except
for the hours when British ntah,rN-
men were raiding German trenches
continued homhsrdment has been mann
tanned.
Batteries. which now arc innumera
hle, took turns at smashing the Ter
man defences. destroying communlca
ton trenches and blowing up ammuhl
ion denots New trench mortarS.
particularly destructive, tore away wire
cntanelements. broke down parapetS
snd generally opened the way for men
with rifles and bayonets. Big guns oil
6fteen inches and other large calhreS
prevented the Germans from bringing
up supports. wrccking everything
within range.
London Stirred by News.
The artillery fire was particularly
intense on a stretch OF the front north
Of the Somme. and earlier dispatches
told OF the destruction of tho towns OF
Thiepval and Beaucourt, where the
Germans had concentrated ammunition.
Early this morning more guns were
brought into action on this twenty. mi lie
sector. and for an hour and half the
Germans were subjected 70 lombard
ment which is described as the .loSi
nerce experienced IN this war Of heavy
artillery.
The news Of the British offensive
which was quickly circulated IN Lon
don created the greatest enthusiasm
md details Of the battle are being anN-
.ously awaited. Only this morning the
correspondents at the front Of British
aaaar ~
ish artillery and rsiding successes,
warned the publ, that an advance
must be made BY infantry and not by
artillery. and that the British army
could not expect 10 come out OF the en-
caCement scathlesS. First accounts OF
The battle. however, state that the Brit
,sh casualties were not heavy.
The news spread throughout London
ke wildfre. There was q frantic rush
10 obtain special editions OF the even.
ing newspapers. Along the Strand and
o.hcr thoroughfarc5 there was tur-
moil OF excitement.
From the tops Of buses passengers
especially soldiers, cheered the tdlngs
which had been awaited so eagerly
Men and women in little groups
scanned the special editions, then broke
out in cheers Of JOY. Though the pub
lie is tremendously enthusiastic even
now, military critics view the situation
calmly. preferring to wait for fuller
reports.
Strategy Of Attack.
Observers point out that the sector
of the German front on which the BRIT
ISL have assumed the offensive forms
. considerable bulge IN the Brltish
line. The southern end rests on the
Somme, which is formidable river IN
military operations, because II breaks
into many channels flowing through a
broad marsh, which at places mas not
been surveyed.
II is a broad. rolling country, alto
rether different from the fiat, marshy
and bleak aspect of Flanders. Its sound
ed chalk hills are densely wooded.
One expert, writing of the offensive,
says; oo-
expected great attack in tins coun-
frv. We may hope, therefore, for re-
duction OF the German salient there
and the securing of better strategic
positions. Far more important than
that. il is CERTAIN that this attack VIII
be very destructive to the morale OF the
German troops. The official messages
say their army has attacked. But what
must BE borne in mind now is the muoh
greater length of front the British
hold. We attacked on about one-quar-
ter Of the length of our front.
The progress of the battle has been
marked by steadily increasing intensity
of fighting. North of the River Ancre
II has been particularly severe. The
enemy i'm several villages offered a
strenuous resistance, but the gallantry
Of the British troops resulted IN their
gradually working around various
strong points.
Fricourt Nearly Surrounded.
With Fricourt now nearly surround
ed. the British further north are on
both sides of the GommecOurt salient,
and the village of Mametz is now com
pletely in their hands a German
counter-attack on Mantauban was sue
cessfully repulsed. The number Of
prisoners so far taken in this region
is about 1900 The record naturally is
incomplete, and other prisoners are
being brought in.
The battle is characterized by the
British effort TO surround villages
which the Germans have made strong
point of resistance.
Among the troops opposite inc DIV
ish, it has been found, were the Prus-
sian Guard reserve division, which
fought at Loos and Neuve Chapelle.
Not a single German regiment has
been removed from this front The
number of Germans opposite the Brit
ish and in reserve behind the lines IS
estimated at 100000.
The new British trench mortars,
which fire thirty-fve shots a minute,
played a great part, cutting wire en-
tanglements and destroying trenches.
A British staff officer who witnessed
the advance at the junction OF the
French and British lines said the at
tack was launched as though the men
were on parade.
Recounting to-day's battle the Brit
ish War Office statement says:
Heavy fighting continued all day
between the rivers Somme and Ancre
and north Of AncTe to Gommecourt,
inclusive. Tn fight on the whole Of
this front still continues with inten-
sity.
Capture Trench Labyrinth.
con the right of our attack we have
captured German labyrinth OF
trenches on a front Of seven miles "a