New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-21
Suffer Severe Losses
in Drive Against
Bapaume Road.
FRENCH REPULSE
MASSED ATTACKS
Four Assaults Fail to
Pierce Line Near
COmbleS.
by Cable 70 The Tribune

by Cable 10 The Tribune
London, Sept. 20.-As if TO dis
prove the statement that their coun-
ter assaults had lost their elan the
Germans made a desperate effort to-
day to regain their hold on the Pc
ronne-Bapaume road. A series OF
terrifice rushes were hurled against
the French and the British lines, but
they made no headway.
The blows began last night on both
sides of the river, but they met with
no success. On the French front the
Germans penetrated some trenches,
but Foch's troops drove them out in
short order. This apparently was
preliminary work-an attempt to
feel out the strength of the new
Allied positions.
With morning greater effort was
begun. This attack was confined 70
the French front, in the sector be-
tween Rancourt and Clery. 1t aimed
to regain possession of those parts
of the Bapaume-Peronne road won
by the French a week ago. Through
this gap it is possible for the Allied
troops to drive a wedge between the
two towns.
Germans Attack in Masses.
From 9 o'clock in the morning ~
til nightfall the attack continue!
with fury along three-mile front.
Moving forward in dense masses-as
the Russians assail the Teuton line
in Galicia-the Kaiser's troops
threw themselves repeatedly at
Foch's positions.
Wave after wave broke under the
intense fire Of the French artillery.
As each crest receded it left behind its
wreckage of dead and wounded. The
ground before the French trenches was
covered with corpses. Reports from
the front indicate that the determina-
ton of the Kaiser's troops seldom has
been equalled.
Around Priez farm, where the
French position presents an immediate
menace to Combles, the battle reached
especial fury. Four separate assaults
battered at the French line, but each
time a curtain of fire was set up and
through this the most desperate
charges of the Germans could not
crash.
Bayonets Repulse Germans.
Another fierce struggle centred
about Bouchavesnes, on the national
highway. Here the Germans succeeded
IN winning foothold in the village.
Foch's infantry, with bayonets fixed,
then sprang TO the attack and after a
hand-to- o-hand combat drove the enemy
out again.
Each charge was preceded by heavy
bombardment, 10 which the Allied guns
responded effectively. The French
machine guns and heavy artillery did
the major work with their cross fre.
Where they failed TO stem the German
attack the infantry succeeded. BY
nightfall the counter blow had been
turned. :,
The German losses were undoubtedly
heavy. The Overseas News Agency de,
French losses thus far in the Somme
offensive totalled 100000. A few more
days Of counter attacking such as to-
day will bring the German total far
higher than this.
Allies Defence Encouraging.
The ability Of the Allies to hold their
Gains is extremely encouraging. 1t
must be remembered that the positions
won by the Allies have been almost
completely destroyed by the gun IRE
which always precedes the attacks:
The Allied troops thus are confronted
with the task Of defending positions
almost unprotected by trench lines.
That task was accomplished to-day.
sir Douglas Haig quoted II commu-
nication issued recently by Falken-
bavn. admitting that the wastage IN
Guns and shells IS exceeding the Ger
man production. Although its value IS
no, magnifed, this statement has at
trccted much attention here.
Allowing for the shortage OF man
noyer il gives an additional reason
Tor the practical abandonment Of the
Ierdun operations and the reversal OF
~, dec;s,on 10 attack the British in
the north and to launch heavier blows
on IN. east. 1t emphasizes the ire
ouent statement in these dispatches
that the Germans are playing ior time'
ar,,iro s"a their strength in the hope
TINT they can recuperate during the
winter. .. 49, -
fensiye would be pressed and that the
"boche" would have no rest Oh tne
west front. The heaviest OF the Ger
man counter strokes has been thrown
Lnck. md when the time comes for
Centiansd an eass q. column