New-York tribune., 1916-07-05
Worn and Half Starred,
Germans Yield to Foe
After Nerdun Get Shot Herep MOI Says Infantry
of Allies Finds Progress Easy After lcrlhc
Bombardment Of Five Days.
By FRED B. PITNEY.

suddenly shots came from behind, the
Germans appeared from beneath the
flaps and were shooting into our backs.
We fell on them pretty quick. Twenty
were killed and sixty others threw up
their hands"
For month past the Germans have
been on the alert around the Sommc,
and orders had been given in secret
circular 20 construct special intrench-
mcnts. Saps had everywhere been
pushed 10 within twenty-five yards Of
the French barbcd wire. and numerous
passages were cut in the German wire
ENHANCEMENT TO enable their patrols TO
spy out every suspicious movement on
the part Of the French.
Extra shelters had been dug thirty
feet behind the trenches. so that the
men could get into the trenches more
quickly when the French bombardmcnt
ceased. Exits were made in the rear
Of these shelters. Numerous listening
Saps were made in such manner as
not TO interfere with either frontal or
hankinC fire from the trenches Woods.
whenever well placed. rs was that Of
Mcreaucourt. were turned into formid-
able rcdoubts. with specially construct
cd shelters having iron girders over
the entrances Concrete protection was
erected TO resist the big shells. At
/ frequent intervals there were armored
contcretc machine gun turrcts.
In addition. villages were trans
formed. houses were pulled down in
order TO give a uniform aspect and to
prevent aviators from spotting the
guns placed in the cellars. Finally all
the men were given four emergency ra-
tions of bread and coffee and 100
cartridges and two bombs. Each section
had also fare pistol with 300 flares
and two signal cartridges.
When the French attack began July
] the Germans were so hard pressed
that they were obliged to fall back on
Frise. They hoped to be able to cling
there because or the marshy loon OF
the Somme. but the German regiments
holding that position were so badly
punished by the bombardment that thee
reserves were ordered there This or
der was received at ! o'clock in tho
morning. According TO prisoner. they
Immediately assembled and in compa-
MES marched through Peronne. One
after another they reached Biaches,
laucourt and then Herbecourt Thence
progress was difficult
Panics Develop.
When they entered the communica-
tion trenches leading TO Frise they
came under n terrible shell fire, which
caused heavy losses. and once or twice
q panic started. and was with great
difficulty allayed by the officers
/ Finally. toward o'clock. the rein
forcements. which already had suf-
fered severely, reached the trenches
and were posted between the second
and third positions behind Frise,
where they we're subjected to a terrific
bombardment. The men, crouching in
/ shelters ten feet below ground, could
/ hear the explosions of the heavy
French shells knocking their defence to
powder, and now and then one of the
shells would tear through the roof OF
their shelter and bury the occupants
under a mass Of earth and beams.
Three hours later the French in
i fantry made fresh attack on Frise.
/ Their advance was so sudden that the
/ Germans lost hold on their positions.
, The German officers ordered two COM
panies OF reinforcements TO advance
along the Somme Canal. where they
were cut up by the French Other COM
panies were sent TO Frise and Mereau-
court wood to await events, but in less
than two hours the French occupied
Frise and the whole German line began
to fall back. closely pressed by the foe.