Evening star., 1916-09-26
HAD ALMOST SURROUNDED
STRONG GERMAN POSITION
Stood a. an Obstacle in Way Of Ad-
vance Against Peronne
and Bapaume.
BATTLING NOW IN THE TOWN
Official Statement Issued in London
Today Says Resistance Of the
Germans Is Being
Overcome.


Overcome.
BERLIN, September as,
by wireless to Sayville.-
Successes were achieved by
the Anglo-French forces on
the Somme last night to the
east of Eaucourt L'Abbaye,
north of Flers, says the Off
cial statement issued by the
German army headquarters
today. The conquest of the
villages on the line of
Gueudecourt -Bouchavesnes,
the statement adds, must be
recognized.
LONDON, September rs, 2
p.m.-The British have entered
Combles on the Somme front, the
war office announced today, and
are overcoming the resistance OF
the Germans.
Many Prisoners Taken.
More than 1900 prisoners. taken in
the fighting Of the last twenty-four
hours. have already been counted. and .
large amount Of war material has been
captured. The announcement follows:
Yesterdays operations were entirely
successful. The preparation and exc
cution Of the attack by the artillery
and infantry and the cooperation be-
tween them were in all respects ad-
mirable. More than 1 800 prisoners al
ready have passed through the collect
ing stations and more are arriving.
Much war material has been captured.
but the amount cannot yet be esti-
mated.
Further progress has been made dur
ing the. night and this morning. A
strong redoubt which had held out
between Les Boeufs and Gueudecourt
now has been captured and the garrison
made prisoners.
"Our troops entered Comb1es from the
west and are overcoming the enemy's
resistance. There the enemy's loses
were very severe"
Important to Germans.
Combles, town Of some 1000 popu-
lation before the war. had been rem
dered Of small strategic Importance to
the allies by their long continued en-
circling movement. 1t has been of
notable value to the Germans. how
ever. because as long as they clung to
1t the Franco-British freedom of action
in pushing their offensive movements
toward Bapaume and Peronne. on either
side of it. was hampered.
Turned into a strongly fortified po-
sition by German defensive ingenuity.
it has persistently held fast like a
rock in the course of a turbulent
stream that has had to be blasted loose
before the channel was fully opened up.
Long and Costly Effort.
This process has only be accom-
olished by long continued. severe and
costly effort on the part II the allies.
Driving in from the south the
French successfully swept by Harde-
court, Maurepas, LIE Forest and finally
reached Fregicourt. a mile east Of
combles.
More slowly, but none the less surely. .
The British have pushed their advance
IN the north of the German salient.
Their struggles to reach and hold
Sinchy and Guillemont were expen-
;ive in time and men. but finally the
,round north of Combles and some
distance to the east was occupied, put
Ing the town in a pocket. of which
he opening was constantly being
narrowed by the drive of the entente
rmies. Yesterday came the combined
,ffort of the French and British to
lose the opening. or at least render
t so narrow that whct could be ex-
racted through it by the Germans
would not be worth while.
Only two roads remained over which
he Germans could move their men and
uns. The single-track railroad rum
ing through the place had long since
cen rendered useless.
British Occupied Morval.
Attacking from the north. Gen. Haig's
,rces rushed to and occupied MorvaL
ntting the northerly road running to
e Transloy.
Striking from the south the French
pshed their line to Fregicourt, sever
IL communications with Combles over
,e southerly road-that stretching to-
ard Sally. The gap between Morval
nd Fregicourt. mile and half in
idth and reaching back toward Com
les. was swept from either direction
V the combined fire of French and
ritish guns.
It is not thought probable that any
force of Germans remained
Combles. During the day yesterday.
hen 1t was becoming evident that the
HE'D forces were achieving their oh.
ct Of closing in east Of the town. the