New-York tribune., 1916-07-30
Germans Cease At
tackS After Heavy
Losses.
BIG GUNS FIRE
AGAIN INTENSE
Haig Gains at Three Points
French Take More
Ground at Verdun.

London, July 29.-The Germans,
thrown back with tremendous losses
last night in two counter attacks on
the Delville Wood and one at Verman-
dovillers, while the British gained
ground at Delville, High Woods and
Pozieres, have been unable to resume
the offensive on the Somme front.
Sharp hand-to-hsnd fighting has con-
tinued at many places, and the artil-
lery pounding has been tremendous,
but General Haig reports tonight that
nothing of importance" has occurred
All the news goes to show that the
British are easily maintaining their
superiority in the hand-to-hand fight
ing, which is gradually driving the
Germans from the last OF the high
ground that remains between Albert
and Bapaumc. The German losses for
the last week are unofiicially reported
as stupendous. In both Pozieres and
Longueval it has been literally case
Of every house being fortress, and 1t
is no exaggeration to say that the gar
risons of these fortresses have been
exterminated.
British Broadening Wedge.
Under the terrific artillery fire the
British are now steadily wearing
through the enemy's third line. Their
wedge, first driven in at Pozieres, is
widening daily. Every day their grow
ing superiority in men, guns and sup
plies facilitates their ability to attack
where and when they please, while the
German counter attacks are petering
out, and their much boasted counter
offensive has failed to make a serious
impression. Their thinning lines may
almost be said to be waiting for the
final push which General Haig will
give when he has consolidated his new
positions and brought up his guns.
The importance with which the Ger
mans regard the Delville Wood is
shown by their desperate and per-
sistent counter attacks there ever since
il was won by the British. Similar
counter attacks against Pozieres
showed their CONSERVATION at losing
il. and were kept up till the terrlhc
losses made it impossible to get the
troops to 60 forward again. Ap-
parently the same thing has now hap
pened in regard to the Delville Wood.
Lose Ground After Attacks.
The fact that each of these counter
attacks is followed by gain for the
British shows how great thelr super-
oritv over the Germans has become.
without spectacular charges. without
anv general attack along the front, the
British, with grenade and Knlle ana
bavonet. are slowly and surely cutting
down the defenders of the crest Of the
ridge. and forcing their way across It,
This is going on in the face Of every
resource the Germans can gather
their desperation being shown by the
fact that they have not dared detach
men 70 90 to the rescue of the Austrian
and Austro- German armies which are
be;no battered TO pieces on the eastern
fronf. Besides the Brandenburgers,
who already have been mentioned,
manv infantry units that were before
Verdun have been found among the
Germans now facing the British. This
is the reason why the Verdun fighting
as the French reports show, has de-
veIoped into almost purely artillery en-
eaeements. except where they them
Selves have taken the offensive. These
minor French attacks are gaming some
ground. ~
elso busy last night, repulsing heavy
German counter-attack at Vermsndo-
villers. Two German detachments
struck at the French lines, but so feeble
Continued on page 2, column