Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-06

river Somme and in the region south
OF 'he river, says the statement. fight
ing continues. Minor progress made
Dy British troops near Thiepval was
balanced by counter attacks. Further
TO the south the British succeeded in
obtaining a firm foothold in an adj
Nanced trench salient.
me headquarters staff Announces
that the small village OF Hem. in the
Somme valley, has been evacuated bv
the Germans Belloy-en- Santerre,
southwest OF Peronne has been cap
tured by the French. The fighting
around Estrees, it is added, has come
70 standstiI.
Another Day Of Progress.
Paris, July s, Il a. m)-The Anglo
french offensive in Picardy has had
another day of substantial progress
outstanding features being the re
sumption OF the French advance north
OF Somme and the capture of German
second positions there
Preparations had been made quietly
IN this section virtually unhindered by
the Germans while the French forces
south OF the river pulled up level and
got thorough grip on the Germans
second positions. This was accomp-
llshed by the election of the Germans
from the part of Estrees they still
held and the capture of their COM
munications between Estrees and Bel
lowy. The northern troops emerged
from their trenches and dashed for
ward a good mile
Position Demolished ny Shells.
The Germans second positions had
been so demolished by artillery that
they were unable to make strong re
sjstance except at the village of Hem.
which had been strongly fortified. Here
by dint Of hard fighting the village was
won as well as MOnacu farm to the
southwest
The French consider the capture Of
Hem as of considerable importance,
for it commands the passage Of the
river TO Feulieres. already in their
hands. Its possession thus assures a
direct bond between corps on either
side of the stream.
The Germans are beginning to react
more vigorously as reserves arrive,
particularly south of the SOmme.
French critics expect that the Ger
Will concentrate all their energies IN
defense of the villages Of BaTleuX and
NiIlers-C arbOnnel The former bars
the ravine lying between the two plat
eaus which separate the French line
from PerOnne, while the latter, viii
lage OF 500 inhabitants. stands on the
southernmOst of the two pIateaus, 500
feet high and rakes the whole valley
Of The SOmme as far as Peronne.
Story of listers is Told.
Press camp British army in France.
july 5-The story of the Ulster di-
visions share in the first days battle
Of the AnglO-French offensive is now
accessible 1t had one of the most ter
rible parts of the difficult attack in
the northern section of the offensive.
Its trenches were Acknowledgements
located on ground facing ridge up
on which the German batteries were
turned.
Three curtains Of shrapnel fire and
in the face Of machine gun fire the dl-
vision captured the first German line
shouting no surrender and "remem-
Der the BOyne' and started for the
second line They continued on unit!
they gained a strong redOubt on the
summit of the ridge. There those who
had survived dug in. Against Ger
man counter attacks they held on un-
til they had no more bombs or cart
ridges.
HOpeIesSly shut off from further
supplies by German curtains OF shell
fire they had to fall back. bringing 200
prisoners to the German first line o.
trenches. Here they established them
selves and stayed till help came.
Want Sleep. Wash and Shave
Rattalious lighting since the battle
began now have been relieved from the
front line and are in billets in quiet
villages. Answering questions as 10
what they wanted most when re
Iieved. they invariably answered III
three words. sleep, wash, shave
Every battalion is proud of keeping
its formation until the first line OF the
German trenches was reached one
battalion with whose officers the cor
respondents talked, met machine gun
fire and lost half or its officers and
men before reaching the first llns
trenches. but fought its way on anoth-
er thousand Yards to an objective SET
far ii where il entTenched and main
tanned its position
The British who had to subslst on
their travel ratiOns for the first Few
DAYS. in some instances were saved
from shortage by the German ratlons
which escaped destruction by shell
fire.
Talks with prisoners generally re
yeale1i that German soldiers nave 1904
while letters from their homes indicate
nrivatfons OF the civilian population.
Asked what he thought OF the great
naval hattie. one prisoner said he new
er heard of it.
Many asked the same question as do
the British soldiers.
Has the British army enough shelia
to keep up such bOmbardments as ina
of last week?
Attach Pacific Islands.
Melbourne. Ocean. an
,ing and Washington islands in the /
have been attached by the I