Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-14
Attackers Rush Through
Second Line of German
Defenses in Drive.
CAPTURE TWO TOWNS
Bazentin LIE Grand and
Longueval Wrested From
Foe Reports Aver.

London. July II, G2:25 p. M
At daylight this morning the Brit
ish, resuming the offensive north
of the SOmme. attacked the Ger
man second line defenses and ac-
cOrding to the report Of their COM
mander, General Sir Douglas
Haig, succeeded. in penetrating
them on front of four miles.
Press dispatches from the front
add that the villages of BaZentin-
Le-Grand and LOngueVal, north Of
MOntauban and the remaining
portion of TrOnes wood were
taken by the British.
While it was expected the British
would not allow any great length OF
time to elapse before continuing their
operations it was hardly believed the
second German would be attacked
after only one day of artillery pre-
paration; for it was only the day be-
fore yesterday that they completed
capture of the first line in the region
between Hardecourt and Ovillers. The
direction of the attack, too, was some
thing of a surprise, for instead OF
pushing on toward Candles, General
Haig chose TO attack the flank of the
Ovillers and those who still occupy
Pozieres.
Is Strategic Position.
The advance to Longueval and
Bazentin7L Let Grand, If accomplished,
gives the British possession of import
ant roads. which have been a great
help to the Germans in supplying
their army directly south of the Ancre
river.
News Of the British success was re-
ceived in London with the greatest
enthusiasm. 1t was given added weight
to the request of the government 10
wOrkmen to forego the August holt
days so that the army may be kept
well supplied with munitions.
There was no news this morning OF
important developments on the re-
mainder Of the western front but a.
last accounts the French were prepar-
ing to resume their offensive south Of
the Somme, while the Germans were
still hammering at the defenses OF
Verdun.
Russians Less Active.
The Russians have made no notice
able advance on any part of their front
since they gained the Stokhod river.
where the struggle continues desper-
ately. The right bank apparently has
now been cleared of Germans but it is
not known here whether the crossings
made by the Russians have given them
a firm footing on the left bank Cen
eral Won Bothmer, having received re-
Inducements, has succeeded in holding
the Russians in Galicia but with De-
latyn in the hands OF the Russians,
they possess an advantage from
which further success is expected.
The operations in the Caucasus are
becoming more and more important.
After suffering heavy losses in their
counter offensive, the Turks are now
being pressed back towards Baiburt
and ErZignan, while i'm Persia the Rus
clans have brought up reinforcement5
10 meet the Turks who drove them
from Kermanshah
British Statement
The British troops at dawn today
broke into German position on 4 four
mile front in the region north OF he
Somme and captured several .trong-
~ defended localities, says the official
announcement Of the war office The
British attack was delivered on the
second section or the German defenses.
The statement reads:
This morning at dawn We attacked
the enemy's second section OF the
lenses. our troops have broken into
hostile position on a front OF four
miles and have captured several
strongly defended localities. Heavy
lighting continues"
Villages Captured.
The Reuter- dispatch says that fol-
lowing a heavy bomb rdmeut OF the
German second defense line. the Brit
ish infantry attacked at dawn today