Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06
GERMANS NOW OFFERING \
MUCH STIFFER DEFENSE
Their Lines Strengthened by Re-
serves, Desperate Resistance Is i
Offered Triumphant Allies. =
BERLIN CLAIMS SUCCESSES
Attempt Of French to Advance In
Verdun Sector Repulsed, Says
Official German State
ment.

LONDON, July 6, IS pm
Having captured the whole Ger
man second line south of the
Somme from the river to Belloy,
the French have resumed opera
tions north of the river and have
cleared the bank almost to Clerv.
The French, who have estab-
lished themselves at Sormont
farm, also threaten Clery.
The British still are heavily
engaged all along their front.
from Hardcourt to Gommecourt.
Notwithstanding heavy Ger
man counter attacks they have
been able to maintain all the
ground gained and extend it at
some points.
Wiped Out by Artillery.
AS the German trenches are oo-
cupied. evidence accumulates of the
deadly execution of artillery. In some
cases so per cent of the defenders
were killed by the terrific sheIifng to
which they were subjected. British
losses vary. Certain formations being
al Iafa Nrh
machine guns remained undamaged,
suffered heavily. Others captured the
positions which had been set as their
objective with very slight losses.
Instead of compelling the Germans to
Anglo-French offensive seems to have
increased their determination. possibly
in the hope of preventing the French
from sending reinforcements to the
Somme. British observers express sat
isfaction with the progress which has
been made. With the heavy casualties
caused by the bombardment and the
taking of $4,000 prisoners and great
quantity of war material. together with
the subsequent losses inflicted in coun-
ter attacks, it is believed here that the
German power of resistance must have
been weakened.
British Advance Reported.
An official statement issued today
says:
Near Thiepval Con the Son'me front)
feyht nd
captured a number of prisoners.
South of La Bassee canal, after the
discharge of gas and smoke We made
some successful raids into the enemy's
first line In one of these the Royal
welsh Fusiliers especially distinguish
ed themselves, capturing forty prison.
ers. a trench mortar and machine
gun.
Infantry successfully entered the
enemy's trenches west of Hulluch.
machine gun emplacement was destroy.
ed and many Germans were killed ana
some prisoners were taken.
There was no change OF importance
on the rest of our 'front.'
French Have Quiet Night.
PARIS, July 6, 1910 a.m.-Last night
was generally quiet north and south
of the River Somme, says todays Of
fetal statement of the war Office
There were a few local engagements
north of the Somme during the night
in which the Germans captured two
small woods kilometer north of Hem.
The French, also captured a wood.
South of the Somme the night passed
in quiet. German counter attack on.
BeIloy was repulsed easily.
The French have captured seventy-six
cannon and several hundred machine
guns
the Verdun front. The war office says
the Germans are attempting to bonn.
bard the cathedral at Verdun-
The text of the statement follows:
Official French Report.
North of the River Somme there
were last night "a number of local en-
A counter attack by the
Germans took from us two little woods
situated one kilometer (two-thirds of
a mile) north of Hem. An attack by
DIR troops resulted in our gaining an
other wood situated on the northeast
arm boundary of the same village.
"south of the River Somme the night
,assed auietly along the major part Of
The front. A counter attack directed
BY the Germans upon Belloy was easily
french troops which it has been pos
ible to enumerate up to the present
ime reaches seventy-six. We have
Llso taken machine guns to the mum
,er of several hundred. The exact ig-
ire in this case has not yet been
earned
saThere have been no infantry en-
,agements on either bank OF the Riv-
n Meuse. The Germans have bonn
,arded our second lines in the region
4 Chattancourt and there have been
airIy spirited duels of artillery In
he sector of Fleury and at the Eumin
vood.
sThe Germans have delivered ! 70.
oeious attack upqa the Cathedral os