New-York tribune., 1916-07-28
Haig Devotes Time
TO strengthening
New Positions.
SEVERE FIGHTING,
HAND TO HAND
Germans Said To Be Mus
tering Every Resource to
Meet New Drive.

ro,6on. July 27.-Hard hand-to-hand
syb,inc. with fuctuating fortunes, out'
on the whole, with gains for the Brit
;.h IN consolidating and Strengthening
,A.ir new won positions at Pozieres'
q, the Delville wood and at Longuevai'
have marked the day along the Albert
ridge To the south of the Somme' and
,ear the Thiamont fort, the French
h.ye also gained, and all along the
Western front there has been vioieh'
ar,illerv work and feeling out" at
,seks by both sides, with little change
IN position.
The British, after only few hours
rest resumed last night the work Oh
,,esrinc out their lines beyond Po-
aieres. and finally driving the Germans
ron, an important trench which had
titberto withstood many attacks. Dur
inr the day the Germans, after Sc
20 borbsrdment, succeeded in re-
lining the trench. The British imme-
l.o,elv counter attacked, and when the
la.os+ renorts were sent held part OF
.,. work and were slowly fighting their
way along it.
Heavy Fighting Continues
ueavy fighting continues all along
.p. front. though apparently it is IN
,te nature Of local actions, to clear
,belines. and not general attempt 10
.5vsnce. The east and northeast parts
- .bs Delville wood have been cleared
and mart Of the village Of Longuevai'
which changed hands four times on
Sunday. is again in British hands.
After the strenuous fighting. when
has lasted from early in July, the ex-
merits expect an abatement Of infantry
actions on the Somme front, though
none in the artillery pounding from
both sides. The Germans are likely to
make the first move in an effort 10
dislodge the British from Pozieres be-
fore the former can bring up their
heavy guns and consolidate their gains
failure to do this will be considered
here an admission that Germany has
lost the power to attempt to do any
thing more than hold TO what she mas
won as long as she can.
Further Advance Delayed.
General Haig, on the other hand, Is
expected 70 take some time to strength
en- the positions he has won before at
tempting TO drive on downhill into
Bapaume. Corcelette, on the left, and
Martinpuich, on the right, command the
road from Albert TO Bapaume, along
which the British drive is likely to
centre. The capture of the former will
threaten 10 surround the Germans who
are still holding out In Thiepval
ONLY the smallest of garrison guards
remain in Belgium, it has been learned
here. Troops and guns are passing
through in a constant stream toward
the Somme sector Germany is be-
Ieved 10 be straining her resources
70 the limit TO prepare for the struggle
which is soon TO be renewed.
In an effort TO Offset the French
concentration of men on the Somme the
German artillery has been lively north
OF the Aisne and in the Champagne.
The Germans have been following up
the bombardment with raids, the
largest. near Prosnes, being on front
Of nearly a mile. The French repulsed
the enemy without gain.
Germans Display Anxiety.
All the news received here from Hol-
land and Switzerland indicates that
Germany is extremely anxious about
the West front situation. She has
boasted that her lines there could
never be broken, and knows that if they
once fail the indication of ultimate de-
feat will be plain for all to read. The
appeal of the General staff for con-
fdence will then be Offset by proof
shat it is not worthy of such conf
dence, and the great question Of the
war-how Germany will stand defeat
when there is no prospect Of any fut-
rfe but more defeat-will become domi-
nant
The Germans are making every effort
10 have the world believe they are well
satisfied Their wonderful publicity sys-
ten which is always called on 10 cover
up signs Of disaster, is working harder
Than it has for months. Statements
IRON officials, officers, soldiers, civil
lans, any one, are coming out in qusn-
ulies. Press correspondents have been
taken TO the front, and have talked
with soldiers coming from the trenches.
IN fact, everything possible is being
cone TO give the Impression that the
erlsis rs past. London thinks that the
enort TO give this impression is far too
obvious.
Whole Second Line Taken.
Inc capture Of the village of Pozieres
rom the Germans, military officers say.
hAtaIS mat tho Rr1fIeh in nj OF a
possession Of the German second line
IN ~, ,he Somme region.
Inc night for Pozieres lasted eleven
uays-irom July Ia to July 25 The
pace was defended by 200 machine
suhs' OF which all but thirty were
eoptinued on page 4. calazss