New-York tribune., 1916-07-26
Counter Drive or the
SOmme Waits Only
Good Weather.
ALLIES WIDEN
ALBERT SALIENT
Repulse German Attacks
at Many Points-Fierce
Battle Continues.
fBy Cable 10 he Tribunal

London, July 25.-Desperate Ger
man counter attacks that failed,
British and French attacks that won
only a little, with violent hand-to-
hand fighting and the ceaseless
pounding Of ths b'y guns on both
sides marked the day along the
Somme front. The Germans have
prepared a tremendous counter Of
fensive, which they expect to oust
the British, according to press dis
patches from Berlin, while the Allies
are setting themselves, under the
heavy cannonade, for yet another
attempt to clear the vital Albert
Ridge.
The German preparations for their
counter drive have been enormous,the
dispatches indicate. The regiments
depleted in the recent fighting have
been filled or withdrawn, new units
taking the places of the latter; new
guns have been brought up, stores
of ammunition accumulated, and re
serves prepared. Everything is de-
clared to be ready for the blow.
which only awaits favorable weather.
Drives All Repulsed.
General Haig's reports are con-
sidered encouraging, in spite Of the
small gains, because of the inability
of the Germans to retrieve the
ground they have lost. The German
drives are the heaviest since the
Allied offensive began, but the Brit
ish are meeting them with apparent
ease, though miles from their bases.
The salient of Longueyal formed
by the Deville Wood was the target
for the most desperate of the Ger
man attacks, launched from the
south, east and north. These broke
down under the British artillery and
machine gun fire, and even the fore
most attackers failed to reach the
new British lines.
Gain Ground In Pozieres.
Another attack was launched in day
light against the eastern side of the
British positions at Pozieres, after the
Australians had gained more ground in
their third days gruelling hsnd-to-
hand fighting. This, too, broke down
before coming to handgrips. The
progress Of the Anzac men here is par
ticularly valuable, because the clearing
of the three hills on which Pozieres
stands will enable them to enflade the
Thiepval works, hitherto impregnable
against the most gallant attacks, and
also to close the neck of the Leipsic
salient, insuring the capture Of the
great redoubt and its defenders.
The French share of the days fight
ing has been the winning OF some
powerfully fortified houses by a drive
near Estrees and the ousting Of the
Germans from trenches in the neigh
borhood of Vernandovillers. near the
southern end of the battlefield.
Desperate Fighting Futile.
Along the rest of the Somme front
there have been no gains for either
side in spite of desperate fighting. The
Germans report q combined Anglo
French assault which, they say. broke
down with heavy losses. The Branden-
burgers and Saxons are declared TO
have distinguished themselves, though
no success for them is chronicled. The
French success at Estrees, Berlin says,
was temporary, and resulted in severe
losses.
A review Of the ground gained by the
British in the last month shows that
while in the first two weeks Of their Of
fensive they advanced along a front
of twenty miles TO a depth OF from q
furlong to four miles, in the last ten
days they have gained on only an eight
mile front, TO an average depth OF 1T
tie less than two miles. The ten days
have netted them only about eight
square miles Of ground.
Third Lines Strength Shown.
The figures, though only Approximate.
are interesting 70 strategists here as
showing the difficulties OF penetrating
the third line after the enemy has had
time to bring up reinforcements. IL 10
impossible TO guess at the casualties.
since even the numbers of men en-
gagged have been guarded with the great
est care.
Outside the Somme battlefield the
| few actions reported seem 20 have
/ been mostly feelers. Around Nerdun
4 - 49,. kao.,, .x,,liar, ,,,orL ~, ~.