The sun., 1916-11-08
Sudden Attack Carried to
Villages Of AblaincOurt
and PressOir.
REPORT CAPTURE
OF 800 PRISONERS
Troops Now Only Il Mile
From Railroad Supplying
German Army.

fl,ly the French have answered the Ger
man claim that the Somme offensive had
been stopped. South of the river they
dashed forward to-day on a front OF two
and a half miles. and fought their way
into tho villages Of Ablaincourt and
Pre.soir and the Ablaincourt cemetery.
Tho dashing attack was totally success
ful, and 800 prisoners were taken.
By this new French thrust the impor-
,ant railroad Junction and sizable town
OF Chaulnes Is placed In n pocket almost
rs tight rs that in which the Germans
we're squeezed out Of Combles. BY
capturing Pressoir the French placed
themselves only a mile from tho main
railroad connecting Chaulnes with
peronne, the principal French objective.
Once that line Is cut German com.
munications will be badly confused over
vide front.
The front Of the French attack ex-
tended from the Chaulnes Wood to south
east Of the sugar refinery at Ablain-
court, the scene Of much bloody ighting
Q month ago. Presscir Is a mile north
east Of Chaulnes and Ablaincourt a
shorter distance north Of Pressoir. In
their new positions the French are on
ground somewhat higher than that oc-
eupied by the Germans In this sector. an
Important factor In artillery work.
The Omcial Report.
The night French official report says: /:
North OF the Somme we progressed
between Les B1ufs and Sailly-Saillisel.
south OF the Somme we launched a
brisk attack In the morning. which. de-
spite the heavy rain. brought US impof-
tsnt gains. On "A four kilometer front
We carried enemy positions from Chaul-
ties Wood to southeast of the Ablain-
court sugar refinery. The villages OF
Ablaincourt and Pressoirc were brilliant
ly conquered by our infantry.
Pushing our lines eastward Of Ablain-
court we captured also the Ablaincourt
cemetery. which was strongly fortified
IS the enemy. and carried our positions
To the south Of the sugar refinery as far
hs the outskirts OF Genrecourt.
we have taken during the day more
than 500 prisoners. including several Of.
ncers.
"On the Verdm front there was inter-
mittent cannonading. Elsewhere the
day was quiet"
huhitiOuh DepOt itrru.
A big allied ammunition depot Dehlnc
the Somme front was blown up las
night BY raiding party OF German
nviators, Berlin announces. The serie,
~ explosions was so terrific that 1t coul,
be felt at st. Quentin. more than twenty
i've miles away.
In tho Somme battle the allies cap
iured since July 72,9S1 prisoners. o
whom 1.+<s are ofhcsrs. They hav,
taken $50 heavy guns. l7S field guns, 81!
trench mortars and esl machine guns
OF this total the French took 1926 men
500 officers, l01 heavy guns, II fiei,
suns. 10+ trench mortars and b35 ma
chine guns. The figures aSe announce,
by the French War Office.
Tho German excuse for bombardinJ
Rheims lately Is contained In to-day
omcial announcement from Berlin
"Ths nrs Of French batteries locate,
IN the southern part Of Rheims upoi
villages behind our front was answere,
by us, and In reprisal the town o
Rheims was shelled." II says Th
French claimed the Germans bombarde,
Rheims out Of spite for tho recent Yer
dun defeat
To-dsy's announcement Of the British
War Office says:
During the night We improved ou
position east Of Butte de Warlencourt.
I'VE successfully raided enem,
trenches between Gommecourt and Serre
taking some prisoners and innlctinl
considerable casualties.
An enemy patrol south Of Monch
was dispersed by our IRE.
Heavy rains and strong southwest
sriy gales continue"
German statencnt.
The German statement says:
Army group Of Crown Prince Run
rrecht Although the British plainly In
tended to continue their attacks yester
day. II was only east of Eaucourt rAh
o.ye that they succeeded In making thel
'n'antry leave their trenches. They wer
forced to return Immediately. The Brit
'sh losses In killed on November 5 wer
especially notable among the Australia
divisions.
French attacks over ground covere
With dead were renewed only In limite
way. The new attacks. launched b.
tween Lesboeufs and Rancourt In III
evening and during the night brok
down for the most part early under ou
frs.
"A German air squadron by noctul
nal bombing raid. set on fire a large an
munit!on depot at Cerisy. on tho Somm'
southwest OF Bray. Long continues
heavy detonations were felt as far ava
as 81. Quentin.
Army group of the German Grow
Prince: The fire Of French batteries Il
ca'ed In the southern part Of Rhein
upon villages behind our front was Al
'W"re1 by US, and In reprisal the tow
O' Rheims was shelled.
"ln tho Meuse sector (Verdun from
there We're no important happenings"