The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-02
Pitched Battle in Air
Opens New Big Drive

1EADQUAHlEhb DINhiAcAh nhNh
IN FRAME, July IA pitched air
battle between a British raiding neet
and q squadron OF twenty German FOX
kers over the British front while the
British offensive was getting under way
was q spectacular feature Of the first
DAY Of the serat battle.
The British air fleet, returning from q
raid on the railway station at Lille. was
sttacked by the Fokksrs: Two On, Of r, the
gun fire. The British machines returned
barely.
tng north and south OF the river Somme.
british and French armies today are
driving forward In a battle that may
Prove the turning point In the world war
and possibly a milestone In history.
At least eight villages have oeen
great allied offensive began. at ~ yes
torday morning. The German line mas
been thrust back six miles at one point
and at least $500 prisoners. Including
several regimental officers. have been
taken.
Scene Of Big Drive.
The tremendous struggle centers on
the front extending southwark from the
VILLAGE Of Gommecourt, twelve miles
south of Arras. to the village Of Fay.
south OF Somme and eight miles south
west of Peronne. The official statement
that the battle is continuing with the
greatest intensity.
An officiai statement from the French
war office last night revealed for the
nrst time the extent OF the allied opera
lions. The French at the same time an
nounced the capture OF the villages OF
Dempierre, becquincourt. Fay ana
Bussu. and reported that north OF the
somme French troops have obtained a
'oothold in the village OF hardecourt.
The official report telegraphed by Cen
eral Haig, British commander in chief,
reported further British gains from the
river Ancre southwark to the Somme,
but admitted that q German counter
the British between the Ancre valley
and the village Of Gommecourt. The
exact extent Of the German successes In
the counter-attack is not yet revealed.
The German center. from the Ancrc
southwark for four miles is stubbornly
resisting the British advance, General
Haig reported. The British right. link
ing up with the French near the Somme
is meeting with the greatest abv successes
trenches on a seven mile front to a
depth Of 1000 yards and tearing a huge
gap In tho German front directly east OF
The British ana French gains are in
the direction OF the two important rail-
way centers of Bapaume and Peronne.
held by the Germans.
The British attack was preceded by
an hour and a half bombarIment in
which artillery of all caliber dropped q
heavy rain of shells into the advanced
German positions. Precisely at 1880 a.
IN. the guns listed and the attack be-
gan; 49, ...,..u,, .s.
reported an officer THE men left theil
trenches all along the line and started
for the Boches like a great crowd OF
runners In q race"
Trenches Taken in Two Hours.
There was little fighting when the ad
vanced German trenches were reached
The British guns meanwhile were
nn tSs Soura
miles Of front line enemy trenches wer'
IN British hands. The French mean
while were making gains, the full extern
Of which are not yet fully reported.
Boiselle. three miles northeast of Albert
was captured at about the same time
though word did not reach headquarter
until later. Montauban fell early in tn
afternoon at about the same time re
Curlu and SAVER wood by the French.
Heavy fighting was going on at nooi
at Mametz. four miles east Of Albert
The capture Of Mametz was announces
ment that the British took 1900 pris
oners. Furious fighting continues
through the evening at Contelmaisor
the Germans still holding the easter
part of the town.
The most severe fighting has gone o
around Fricourt. British detachmsnt
closed in from both sides. The fightin
was at such close quarters quarter that that a a,tn
continued to play shells all about tn
town.
The first patches of prisoners. man
Of them made half-unconscious by tn
toned late yesterday afternoon. The
were still suffering from the effects
the shock.
Whole companies of Germans wer
the climax Of its intensity. they r,
ported. MangIed bodies. blown-in. vii
piowed up by explosive shells file
German trenches that ola not oscar
Before the fighting har progressed
in some German regiments h he'd be, bee
put out Of commission; In the utt'
to reorganize the broken units. the &c
mans fell hack in disordered flight,
The heaviset fighting Is deveiopiII
north Of the river Ancre. where {,
each instance the resistance has be.
overcome by the British troops wi
we're continuing a steady advance ear
this evening.
Haig's Official Report.
General Haig's official report on Il
fighting follows;
up to the present we have TAX
1000 prisoners. including regiment
commanders and the whole Of one rel
mental staff.
Large numbers of German dead q
served by our troops indicate that
enemy casualties were severe. especial
near Fricourt.
ION Friday night parties Of our troo
entered German trenches at vario
points between Ypres and Souchez
fiicting casualties and taking sixte
prisoners.
"Fightng on the whole front continr
with the greatest intensity
I'm the center on four-mile fror
we gained many strong points, &C
tinued the official statement. II
enemy Is still holding out. The hghti
"Northward from the Ancre valley
(3ommecourt the battle Is most vioIe
we have been unable to retain grou
gained on the first attacks. Other c,
tured positions remain In our possessi
'.Our airmen bombarded railw
trnin bstween Douai and Cambria.
ELSEWHERE on the front activities hi
occurred but no details are available.