New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-06
Armored Redoubts Unable
to Withstand Furious
Charges.
FOES FIRST LINE
TAKEN IN 4 HOURS
Foch's Success South Of
Somme Presages Great
Victory.
Bv FRED r. PITNEY.
by CAbi. 70 TIE Tribunal

Paris. Sept. 5.-The French yester-
day continued the offensive begun on
Sunday and. despite violent storms
and the stubborn resistance OF the
Germans, took another great bite out
Of the enemy lines.
North Of the Somme Foch's troops
pushed out from Le Forest 20 the edge
Of the wood Of Marrieres. They now
hold all the heights between Clery and
Combles and dominate the powerful
fortress the Germans have made OF the
latter place.
South Of the Somme the battle front
extended over twenty kilometres L
niles. and carried the French often
sive eight kilometres south Of Vermsn-
dovillers. The limits OF attack were
the farm Of Lsmsisonette, between
Barleux and Bisches, and the village
Of Naucort. which is about 500 metres
west OF Chilly and four and a half
kilometres southwest Of Chaulnes.
This front forms an arc with soye-
court as the centre.
For four days the artillery had been
preparing the way for the infantry
The capture on Sunday Of the line
from Clery TO Combles put out Of &C
ton the Germans guns which had been
euflading the French lines soutn OF
the river. The order 20 advance Wa
given lust after noon yesterday ana
AZ o'clock the infantry left the
trenches and swept down on the Ger
man lines. Il was an attack over the
biggest front since the opening OF the
Somme offensive.
The most desperate resistance vas
ro-rd q. D.niecourt. which the Ger
mans had transformed into IortresS'
powerfully armed with mitrailleuses-
Around the chateau IN the northwest
corner OF the town had been Quilt a
system, OF armored redoubts, construct
cd Of reinforced concrete with armored
cupolas. Nevertheless the French penes-
tra-ed this supposedly impregnaoi e
stronghold and a. the end OF the day
fgh+irg held the northern border.
-Four hours suficed Tor the French 20
-ake the entire German first line. Inc
attack began az = o'clock and ended
az s.
Bv the four days cannonade the Ger
man trenches had been completely de-
molished and presented only a series
Of she'll craters. where lay torn anu
twisted bodies Of German dead.
Chilly IS in the hands OF the French
who. little further 70 the NORTH are
only few hundred yards from Cnaul'
res. Vermandovillers Is almost com
pIeteIv surrounded. as the Frencn
,roops PASSED 70 both on the north and
south Soyecourt was carried by storm
and as 10 Is situated on a plateau
Deniecolrt. which is IN the valley De
low is now under the French guns.
The Germans had massed important
reserves behind the zone Of the French
7 bombardment. but they were able 10
10 nothing against the French troops
CHARGING with the bayonet The Ger
mans had plenty Of time 20 prepare
-beir resistance. as the French attack
Lad been ordered three times and eacn
time had been put off on account OF
Tho had weather conditions. lester-
dav IL was carried out despite the
besvv storms which swept over the
baf-Iefeld all afternoon, and II met
vyitb brilliant success along the whole
line IN the face Of defensive prepare
lions made under the eyes OF the
d Kaiser and Won Hindenburg.