Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-07-02

this morning with q tremendous
smash against the German lines on
o twenty-mile front north OF the
Somme. This information was con-
tained in brief special bulletins from
army headquarters today. The Brit
fish swept forward with rush, cap
turing some enemy frontline trenches.
Many German prisoners we're taken.
The British attacks we're continuing
with the greatest violence at the
hour when the dispatches we're filed.
The first reports were flashed to
London shortly before noon. News.
paper extras were grabbed eagerly
In the clubs. hotels. on the streets
everywhere. Within few minutes
the word spread throughout London
the big push has begun"
The public. aroused by announce
ment early today. that the Russians
have captured the important Galiciar
lefty OF Kolomea, that the French
have had successes In the fighting
northeast OF verdun and that the
Italians are steadily pushing north
ward In the Trentino. accepted the
early bulletins as clear indication
that the long-awaited super-offensivt
OF the allies has begun.
The S.ftish thrust forward today
followed four days OF the most lavish
expenditure OF she'll fire the worlt
has ever known. The German from
for nearly ninety miles, from Ysel
to the Somme. was bathed in a never
ceasing flame OF artillery pounding
with the explosion Of millions Of
shells.
At dawn today the British BON
bardment, which grew more intense
throughout the night. suddenly con
centrated a terrific fire on the Ger
man line from the Arras, south tC
the Somme. For an hour and hall
the brief bulletins received In Lon
don, said the German line was under
q steady rain Of high explosive shells
that blottsd out trenches and human
life.
The big guns lifted their fire al
1880. At the same instant rows OF
British troops sprang forward Il
the attack. They were seasoned regi-
ments who had been awaiting eager.
ly their chance at the Germans for
many months and new regiments
from "Kitchener's armies" which had
been held in reserve back OF the
lines.
"By $50 a. m.,' read the des-
patch, I'VE had occupied the German
front line, digging in behind rows OF
German dead. British casualties
thus far have not been heavy"
With full knowledge that London
had been waiting for days tensely
eager for the beginning OF what many
believe the worlds greatest offensive,
the censors hastened the despatch OF
messages direct from the front to
the British capital. For this reason
men sitting quietly In their clubs
we're reading at 1890 p. m. brief
flashes, telling what had happened
across the channel In France, as far
south as the river Somme. at 9:SO
this morning. Only three hours had
elapsed between the crash OF British
and German under the screaming OF
great shells and the time the news
had reached London,
"All the horizon beyond the ground
where stood today was darkened by
the fumes Of Shells" wired the
Chronicles correspondent. "Not q
minute passed without the crash Of
high explosives"
Raids that followed this shell
fire at many points Of the line killed
many Of the enemy and brought forth
sufiiclent prisoners for the identifl'
cation OF the regiments and divisions
confronting the British. The effect
OF the British military work on the
German troops seems TO have been
deadly.