Evening star., 1916-09-06
LONDON CLAIMS THEY NOW
HOLD ALL OF LEUZE WOOD
French Drive Back Repeated Counter
Attacks of Germans South
of River.
FIERCE FIGHT FOR THIEPvAL
Great Attack Has Two objectives,
Combles to the North and
Peronne to the South of
the Somme.

BERLIN, September 6, via
London, 4:4o p.m.-The
town of Clery, on the
Somme river, three and one
half miles northwest of
Peronne, has been captured
from the Germans by troops
OF the entente allies, says the
official statement today is
sued by the German army
headquarters staff.
LONDON, September 6, las
p.m.-The British again pushed
forward on the Somme front last
night. They gained possession
of all of Leuze wood, the war Of
fee announced today.
Fighting continues between
Leuze wood and Combles, and-in
the vicinity of Ginchy.
Official British Statement.
The text Of the British official state
ment follows:
The artillery OF both sides has been
active north of Pozieres and in the
neighborhood of Mouquet farm Last
night we discharged gas successfully
opposite Gommecourt
During the night our troops gained
possession of the whole OF Leuze wood.
Fighting continues between the wood
and Combles village and around Ginchy.
Yesterday afternoon our heavy ar
tillery effectively ehelled the enemy's
hutments in Polygen wood, east Of
Ypres."
German Assaults Repulsed.
PARIS. September 6 noon).-The po-
sitions newly won by the French south
OF the Somme were attacked several
times by the Germans last night Their
assaults. the war office announced to-
day. were broken by the French fire.
The German assaults were delivered
in the region of Deniecourt and Berry.
In the Verdun sector the Germans
yesterday evening directed an intense
bombardment against Fleury. but the
French quickfirers prevented the Ger
man infantry from advancing.
The total number Of prisoners taken
since Sunday on the French front of
the Somme, north and south, Is $3.50,
and the number of guns thirty-six, in
cluding twenty-eight heavy guns.
Great Battle for Thiepval.
The fighting now going on for the
town of Thiepval. in the Somme region,
well deserves to be called a great
battle says the authorized correspond
ent at the front of La Liberte Mon
day night it was in progress over a
front of twenty-four miles, extending
from Barleux to the extreme left Of
the British forces resting on the Ancre
The scene of the attack, continues the
may be divided into two
parts, one running from Thiepyal to
British and half by the French, the
point of junction being Falfemont
farm.
The object of these forces, says the
is Combles, the key to
the approach to Bapaume, now Q
veritable fortress held by the Germans.
British Close to Combles.
Two days ago the British were 1900
yards from Combles. After the advance
to the village of Forest they are now
only 400 yards from the town.
The other part of the front is south
of the Somme, with Peronne for its
objective, and for an attack on which
artillery preparation now is in prog
ress.
Between Vermandovillers and Mari
court the writer says, the French car
ried the whole of the first German
positions along front of more than
two and one-half miles. the successive
line of trenches falling into the hands
IF the French.
Berlin Account of Battle.
BERLIN. September 6. via London.
l:4s p.m.-The text of today's German
official statement reporting the opera
ions in France says:
western theater: The battle on both
sides of the Somme continues with un-
diminished intensity Twenty EIGHT Brit
sh and French divisions are engaged in
he attack. North of the Somme their at
acks have been sanguinely repused. Tho
enemy gained ground at small places
- in limited areas. Clery is in his
lands.
South of the river in a ding-done
Infantry battle our first position has
,een maintained against fresh at
ack of the French on front from
sarleux to south of Chilly. Only where
he most advanced trenches had been
nttrely destroyed have they been
yacuated. Later attacks all have been
epulsed with the most severe losses
he Mecklenburg. Holstein and Saxon
egiments especially distinguished
hemselves-
.Up to last night as the result of two
avs battle south of the Somme thirty
ne officers and 1,437 men from ten
,rench divisions and twenty-five
,achine guns have been brought in.
TN aerial fights and by anti-aircraft
re three enemy aeroplanes were shot
own"