The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-07-28
SCOTLAND NECK, N c., FRIDAY, JULY 28 1916
GRAPHIC RECITAL OF STU
ALTON ON sOMME FRONTIER

Kaiser Visiting Baden and Saxon Plen-
ipotentiaries Gesticulated With Re-
newed Vigor-Evidently Considers
Conditions on somme Front in Salts
factory State.
Headquarters of the German Armie.
on the Somme, July z4.-(By Courier
to Berlin, July %, via London, july
27)-Emperor William in his talk
with the Saxon and Baden military
plenipotentiaries today when he de-
scribed the Impressions resulting from
his recent visit to the trenches, pune
tuatei and emphasized his discourse
With vigorous gestures. With the fresh
ss of his color and general vivicity
OF energy, his bearing showed plainly
that his health had not suffered under
the long strain Of the war.
The emperor's departure for the
eastern front, accompanied by General
Erich Won Falkenhaven, chief of the
general staff, Immediately after the
religious services at army headquarters
is taken as a sign that the responsible
heads Of the army consider the stu
hand, and that there is no occasion
for apprehension.
Tho Associated Press correspondent
spent part Of the morning at an artil-
waiting of the weather to clear sufi-
GENTLY to permit military operations
to begin. No one, however, saw any
lift to the clouds, and as there was no
prospect of witnessing anything inter
esting Of Importance the watch was
abandoned.
The weather was not too thick, how
ever, to prevent the general line of the
opposing positions being traced from
the observation point. Seemingly al
most at the observers feet was the
point of the wedge when the Frencn
had driven against Peronne.
Biaches, on the west bank of the
Somme, which the French for a time
occupied, but which now was again
In German hands, lies too low in the
valley to be seen, but the height of
La Maisonette, stood out plainly
against the backgrounds of clouds
A Homeric struggle for its possession
had been waged tor lofg, days. us own
ership now was shared, the Germans
holding the park while the French held
the chauteau on the southern edge.
Even othis day of inaction shells
and shrapnel was seen bursting fire.
quently over La Maisonette and a new
struggle for complete possession of the
height which is considered the best ad.
vanced post for artillery observation,
apparently was about to begin.
From La Maisonette the line ran
generally southwest to the villige Of
Belloy, the corner bastion on which
it bends almost directly westward to
Soyecourt where it enters the original
front before the beginning of the Of
fensive.
What details of the trace could not
be made out with the eye assisted by
the occasionally dropping shells, were
supplied by an artillery observer who
who stated that the village of Barleux
which the French repeatedly had en-
deavored to storm, was in German
hands willie Belloy was French
stronghold and the village Of Estrees
was divided in possession.
| The French had this morning twice
attempted to push forward the lines
here by vicious attack with hand gre
nadcs, and bayonets, but without sue
cess. Barleux and La Maisonette were
the storm centers in this sector.
To the northwest the square towel
of Peronne cathedral arose from thu
valley. The house of Peronne, whicl
is completely in German hands, ant
separated from the river by its natura
French powers, also were discernibl
to the observer. Offieers who recent,
visited the city stated that Peronn
was remarkably little damaged in viev
of its proximity to the battle front
All the civilian inhabitants of Peronn
have evacuated the city, though great
|ly against the wishes OF many. i
most towns and villages exposed t
French fire, the population manifest
an obstinate desire to remain in thei
dwellings no matter how great the dan
ger. Children and babes scarcely abl
to totter frequently were seen playin
carelessly in villages where the mex
morning a shell might be expected t
drop.
The battle line touches the Somm
to the north of Blanches, runs we'
along the canal to Hem, where it eros
es the river, and swings northward
the vicinity of Guillemont and Waite
lot farm.
The gains Of the entinte allies al
, roughly included between this bas
: line and the point of the wedge {
: La Maisonette, the greatest depth gai1
ed being about a miles.
The correspondent had no opportu