Evening star., 1916-07-21
JOFFRE'S MEN CHECK Y
HOT COUNTER ATTACKS
Germans Driven Back in Disorders
With Large Losses South
Of Soyecourt. 4
vERDUN BATTLE LESSENS'
Teutons Have Difficulty in ConcenA
trating Troops at Any ons
Point on Western
Front.

LONDON, July 21.-Th4i
Anglo-French offensive in north.
ern France is being vigorously
pushed. Today's reports show
the French holding tenaciously
to ground gained and the British
fighting their way farther into
the German line.
Driving north from Bazenti1
and Longueval toward Bapaume.
Gen. Sir Douglas Haig's troops
have advanced as far as the
Foureaux wood. The British
rush even cleared this wood, but
subsequently the Germans were
able to win back part of it.
South of the Somme the French
have been able to hold trenches
captured in their drive along
five-mile front on Thursday, with
standing vigorous counter
attack South of Soyecourt, on
the French right, according to the
French war Office, the Germans
were driven back in disorder, sus-
tanning serious losses.
Allies Are Confident.
The resumption of the battle of the
somme in the French sector has great
ly enhanced the general confidence in
the situation. The protracted halt of
operations on more than a minor scale
was beginning to make the French
and British public fear that the first
results would have no morrow and
that, as In the case of the Champagne
offensive a year ago there might be
reversion to the old trench warfare.
Yesterdays bulletins effectually re-
moved this impression
T A particularly fine piece of work
from the French point of view was
accomplished in the new sector attack
ed south of the river. East OF the
old French front, which ran from the
east of Herbeville to halfway between
that village and the Foquescourt-Vsr-
mandovillers road, the Germans had
constructed, by months of patient toll.
an underground fortifcation in star
shaped wood and on the slopes OF a
hill. There were ninety trenches in
the wood, very deep with two series
of underground shelters in which the
soldiers lay snug during the hottest
bonn bardments.
French May Extend Gains.
The Germans here as in the Barleux
and the Soyecourt region where their
positions formed an inextricable maze
of trenches offered a stouter resistance
than elsewhere on the long line of at
tack But the French troops carefully
prepared for their work and skillfully
led. not only won through everywhere,
but held on to their gains and were
further extend them.
It now develops that yesterdays eff
fort was due several days ago, but
that the artillery preparation was de-
iayed by heavy weather. The French
report that the prehml-
nary bombardment was so effective
that the losses of the attackers were
light.
Contrary to expectations the Ger
mans have made no attempt to follow
up the smashing blow delivered against
the northern Verdun defenses a week
ago The French counter attacks. ac-
cording to the official accounts are
gradually winning back the ground
gained by the Germans at heavy cost
in the vicinity of Thiaumont and
Fleury.
This inactivity on the part of the
crown prince is interpreted by French
opinion as evidence that the
Germans are finding increasing diff
one point on the front The French
officers say that each fresh assault on
Verdun is requiring longer and longer
time to prepare. They claim tnat tne
days in preparation for the attack OF
July IL.
Australians Make Raid. "3
The Australians yesterday on a two J
mile front in the Neutrality-suspicious.
region took part in the big
eest trench raid ever undertaken. it's
extent making it departure. After
cutting the wire by shell fire they
.ushed the German trNches. doing
what damage they could by bombing
and hand-to-hand fighting before re-
firing to their own trenches.
During the French attack the guns
IN both sides were untiringly busy
Having made Longueval and their posi-
Ion in Delville wood secure the Brit
sh stormed the high road, and in both
hese woods and the helds between the
ront and the village of Guillamont the
sermans, massing fresh forces brought
rom Verdun since their whole tactical
,ituation in the Somme region became
resisted the British with
he savage determination not to yieil
urther high ground which is nothin /.
more than knolls and rolling farm lan1
by shells and whipped by
,ullets. whose loss leaves command OF
he position to the British. The Ce--
mans are still bringing up guns. pre-
umably from verdun, and fronk til
a vb n tn LSonrna all RleX- !