The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-06
French Now Hold Entire Line
South of River.
$1,000 GERMAN PRISONERS
Captured Trenches Evidence of
Deadly Artillery Fire.
Some Show so Per Cent of Ger.
man Defenders Killed.


Berlin, July 6.-The German war
office this afternoon officially admit
ted that the French have captured
Belloy-on-S a nterre, south of the River
Somme, and that the Germans have
also evacuated the village of Hem, on
the north bank.
The war office also admitted the
British made minor progress. obtain
ing a firm foothold in the salient
south of ThiepvaI. Between the Ancre
and the Somme, along the British
front the artillery fire has increased.
Get Whole of German Second Line.
London, July 6.-Having captured
the whole German second line south
of the Sornme from the river to Beiloy,
the French have resumed operations
north OF the river and have cleared the
bank almost to Clery. The French
who have established themselves a.
Sormont farm also threaten Clcry.
The British still are heavily engaged
all along their front from Hardecourt
to GommecOurt. Notwithstanding
heavy German counter attacks they
have been able to maintain all the
ground gained and to extend it at
some points.
AS the German trenches are occu-
pied evidence accumulates of the
deadly execution of artillery. In some
places 80 per cent of the defenders
were killed by the terrific Smelling to
which they were subjected. British
losses vary. Certain formations being
called on to attack defenses where
machine guns remained unchanged
suffered heavily. Others captured the
position which had been set as their
objective with very slight losses.
4
Instead of compelling the Germans
to lessen their efforts at Verdun, the
Anglo-French offensive seems to have
increased their determination, possibly
in the hope of preventing the French
from sending achievements to the
Somme. The British observers express
satisfaction with the progress which
has been made. With the heavy
casualties, caused by the lombard
ment and the taking of 10000 prison.
ers and a great quantity of war ma
terial together with the subsequent
losses inflicted in counter attacks, it
is believed here that the German pow
er of resistance must have been weak
| ened.
The Russians continue to record
successes, some of which are of great
importance, along their whole front
| from Riga to the Carpathians. They
| have crossed the railway between
Delatyn, west of Kolomesa and Koro-
| smeslo, one of the main lines between
Galicia and Hungary upon which the
AuStr1anS depend largely to supply
| their armies at Stanislau and before
| Tarnopol. This places the army of
| General Won Bothmer in a still more
dangerous position and it is thought
| he may decide to withdraw toward
| Lemberg.
| Turks Stop Russian Columns
In the Lutsk salient at Baranovichi
/ n III 1rNr1rr Too
| also claim to be making progress and
10 have repulsed counter attacks. Ger
| man correspondents express the opin-
ion that General Kuropatkin is pre-
pairing an offensive in the Wilma
region.
The situation in the Caucasus is
| somewhat confusing. Turkish and
Russian reports are more at variance
than usually, both claiming, however
that while the Russian right is drop-
ping back toward the Black Sea lit
toral and their extreme left is retiring
across the Persian border in Herman
shah district, their center is continuing
! TO advance from Baiburt southwark
to the west of Lake Van and Urumiah
Berlin, July 6, via London, July g.
Attempts made by the French yester-
day to advance in the wood southwest
OF Fort Vaux, in the Verdun sector
ment issued today at the German
army headquarters. Similar efforts
made by the French to recapture
Damloup Hill battery, the statement
adds, were unsuccessful.
! French troops yesterday made an
attack on a narrow front in the Aisne
district TO the south of Fille-au-Bo
northwest of Rheims, the official
statement says. The attack was not
successful and cost the French serious
loss.
Conccde French Gains.
Between the Ancre brook and the
River Somme and in the region south
of the river" says today's German Of
fetal statement, fighting continues
Minor progress made by British troops
near Thiepval, it is added. was bal
anced by counter attacks. Further to
the south the British succeeded in OBJ
tanning firm foothold in an advanced
trench salient.
! The headquarters staff announces
that the small village of Hem in the
Somme valley has been evacuated by
the Germans
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. southwest of
Fort Peronne, has been captured by
the French. The fighting around
EStreeS has come to a standStill."
Praise Welsh and scotch Troops.
London, July 5.-Welsh Fusilleers
distinguished themselves in last night 5
fighting, taking forty prisoners. a
trench mortar and a machine gun,
General Haig reported this morning.
Highland1fght infantry entered the
German trenches last night, capturing
and killing many Germans.