The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-07
French and Germans Battle On
The verdun Front
HEAVY RAIN OF SHELLS
British Have Rushed to Lines
Choice of Those Kitchener
Regiments
UNITED Press Dispatch.1

London. Eng, July AT 1880 this
morning a tremendous offensive was
commenced by the British forces on
the western battle front Of the
Somme. This was announced this
morning in a war office bulletin. The
British began the attack on the Ger
man trenches with tremendous vio-
lence. Extras are circulating in the
principal cities of England, giving
fresh accounts of the tremendous
offensive as the news develops. The
Germans are reported to be giving
way along most of the line.
Super Offensive Begun
This news, together with the dis
patches of the successful Russian
drives against the .Austrians in Cali
cia, with the capture of Kolomea;
the recapture of Thiamount by the
French on the Verdun battle line,
and the reports of the successful
drive of the Italians against the Aus
TRANS in the Trentino region and
elsewhere, convince the public that
the long promised great concerted
super offensive on the part of the
allies against the central empires has
actually begun.
British Commence Offensive.
On the western front the British
this morning commenced their Of
fensive with the most lavish expendi-
ture of shells the world has ever
seen. The British and French to-
gether have commenced an attack
on the Germans on a front of ninety
miles. In the vicinity of Arras the
Germans are reported to have given.
way. The British have rushed to the
attack the choice Kitchener regi-.
ments, that have heretofore, been
held in reserve. Immediately after
the preliminary firing, the British in
fantry started tremendous rush on
the German trenches. The early bull.
letins state that the British casualties
i thus far have not been heavy.
American Refugees Thrown in Jail.
Eagle Pass, Texas, July Friends.
in peace and allies in war-that is,
the proper relation of the United
States and Mexico" Such was
public utterance made today by Gov
ernor Espinoza MiraleZ, of the Mex
lean province of Coahuila.
Eleven American refugees are re-
ported to have been passing through
that province on their way to the
United States. 1t is said that when
they arrived in Coahuila from the
province of Guanijuato, they were
half dead with hunger and thirst. In
Guanijuato they were thrown into
Jail and kept there for twelve hours,
before being allowed to proceed on
their way.
1t is stated that in the region of
Guanijuato there is a great scarcity
of water, as there has been no rain
for more than year.
Say Defenses Have Crumbled.
UNITED Press Djspatch.1
London, Eng, July Along
sixteen mile front north of the
Somme, it was reported today, the
German defenses have crumpled in
before the terrific onslaught of the
British and French artillery. Reports
from French and British sources in
dictate that the results of the Often
sive movements by both nations have
been equally satisfactory.
Fighting Is Violent.
UNITED Press Dispatch.l
Paris, France, July 1.-The crown
prince today renewed his violent at
tack on the defenses of Verdun. 1t
seems that he has trust all his re-
serve power in this latest offensive.
The fighting is especially violent on
the west bank of the Mouse and east
of Hill 304.
Cease Travel to Continent.
UNITED Press Dispatch.1
London. Eng, July 1.-The war office
this afternoon announced that in view Of
the fact that the allies had begun a
great offensive it would be well to sus-
pend all travel between Great Britain
and the continent, except what was TAX
en- on the most urgent business.
All Attacks Repulsed.
UNITED Press Dispatch.1
Berlin, Germany, July 1.-The Ger
ment to the effect that all the British
ment to the fleet that all the British
and French attacks on the German
lines had been reDulSed