New-York tribune., 1916-07-23
Germans Mass Forces
for Final Blow
on SOmme.
FRENCH GAIN
NEAR FLEURY
Repulse Foes Thrusts in
Vosges and Before
Verdun.
rBy Cabls 10 The Trihuna


sorship has again drawn a blanket
over the Allies activities on the
Western front and the official bull
letins record nothing beyond scat
tered and minor engagements and
heavy artillery fire from both
sides, the paucity Of news deceives
no one here. All recognize that the
British are now concentrating their
forces for the assault on the third
and strongest German line before
Bapaume.
The presence, reported from Ber-
lin, of British cavalry on the lines
indicates what may shortly happen.
The present comparative quiet may
represent the hush before the most
important events Of the Allied Of
fensive. Cavalry can only be Of use
when trench fighting is over and the
enemy has been driven into the open.
The line of trenches which the Brit
;sh now face is understood to be the
last of the German permanent de-
fences.
Expect New British Attempt.
The report Of intense lombard
ments may mean either or both Of
two things-a preparation by the
British to renew their offensive or
a preparation by the Germans to
launch another desperate counter at
tack in a final effort to save their
front from being pierced.
1t is taken for granted here that
the British are planning fresh eff
forts. General Haig's report that
the Germans are using tons Of ex-
plosive and tear-producing shells,
and both British and French reports
of German attacks, which, while not
important, may have been in the
nature Of feelers, cause the belief
that the Germans, too, contemplate
an attack. Which will be launched
first, and how great force the Ger
mans have been able to gather, can
only be guessed. The British are
confident of holding their gains.
They are sure the German charge
will break down, as the last one did,
and that the British will again
push forward.
Foresee Great German Thrusts.
There is no tendency to underesti-
mate the strength which such Ger
man thrust will show. II is expected
to measure the force that the Kaiser
can muster, and that it will prove mur-
derous and horribly costly to stop.
The German claim made to-day that
the offensive has been stopped is
laughed at here. 1t is pointed out that
there have been two such claims made
before since the offensive started, and
that both have speedily been proved
false.
Most of the news from the front to-
day comes from the German report Be-
sides the statement that the British
"were unable 70 resume their large,
uniform thrust" Berlin tells Of clear
ing out a nest of British soldiers in
the Foureaux Wood and capturing
"some dozen," and says that offensives
by British or French have failed at
Massiges and near Fleury, in the Ver-
dun section.
The French, on the other hand, re-
port a successful attack at Fleury and
tell of German bombardment OF that
place and the Fumin Wood. They have
repulsed German thrusts near st. Die,
in the Vosges, where a strong attack
was made, and at Moulin-sous-Tout-
vent and south Of Damloup. The first
sign Of activity for over a year near
Belfort comes In a report Of the bomb
INK OA lHc LOWu W oct sNASP.o"~S-
British Report Day Quiet.
To-night's British statement reads:
"The day passed without the occur
renee Of any important incident on the
British front.
yesterday our airmen destroyed six
hostile aeroplanes and forced several
others to descend to the ground in q
l. NJ m
chimes was brought down By gunfire
and two Others are missing"
An earlier announcement read:
"The artillery on both sides has been
more active during the last twelve
hours, and British front line and sup
porting trenches have in several places
been heavily bombsrded with gas and
tear shells"
To-night's French statement follows:
"On the right bank Of the Meuss we