The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-04
REFUSE TO FIGHTq
German Battalion in Wrecked4
Trench Gives Up. IL
British Capture La BoisseIle,
Then Lose Town.

British Headquarters in France.
July 4. 12:45 p. m :. via Lon
don, p. m. = An entire battalion
of the 1s6th regiment of Prussian in
Rhine, surrendered yesterday to the
British near Fricourt- The prisoners
numbered 20 officers and 500 men.
The battalion had been assigned for
duty only a short time before to re-...
place heavy casualties. The British,iI
fire was so heavy and the trench oc-
cupied by the Prussians was damaged
so badly that the men refused to fight .
longer. The situation this morning Is
ergarded by the British as satisfac-
tory.
The announcement follows:
Enemy Is Reinforced. .ts
The enemy, reinforced by many
battalions drawn from other parts OF
the line. continues to offer very stub
born resistance to us at all points
During the night there was heavy
fighting in the vicinity of La Bois-
selle. Our troops fought with great
galiantry against heavy attacks by
the enemy. The enemy recaptured arr-
portion of the defenses south of the r
village. Otherwise the situation in ~,
this section is unchanged"
Further south some progress was
made during the night We captured -
wood, further war material and pris-roi
oners- On other portions of the frontbsh
continuous fighting was maintained..--
particular raids by the rifle brfgadssdA
and the Sherwood foresters ~ere1q1
especially successful. -
In the vicinity of Armentieres. after -,
a heavy bombardment, an attempted
raid by the enemy was repuised with r
losses to them. Some wounded prison.
ers remaining in our hands"
Paris Official Report.
Paris. July 4, 1910 p. m.-rhe night 4
was quiet north and south of the I
mis- ~
the conquered positions, says French !,
official statement issued today. -,
The statement follows: ,sst
North and south of the rfverars
Somme the night passed quietly. The
enemy undertook no offensive action
against our troops, who have busied
themselves in the positions they con- =.
quered yesterday
Further information confirms pre-
vious reports that the war material -
captured by us is considerable. Three r.,
new batteries, two of them of heavy.
caliber have teen added to the bat
teries already enumerated.
Further effect of our destructive
fire has been noted In one shelter
found. ,'-'
I'm a ravine north of Asse~iiiers
and on the northern slopes OF the {.
village of Herbecourt the Germans
suffered enormous losses. North Of
Frise one of our aviators yesterday
set on fire another German captive -
balloon. moo
Between the River Are and thei't
River AiSne French reconnoiterfngf ifi
parties have been very active pene- -
trating the trenches of the enemy as n
far as the supporting trenches located r.
northeast of Beuvraignes and opposite
Vfngre These expeditions brought
back prisoners On the left bank Of
the Mouse a movement of the enemy
against one of our trenches on the
southern slope of Dead Mans Hill =
failed because of the French fire. ON ''''t
the right bank of the river the fight4eii
ing was spirited all night. Northwest ~
of the Thiaumont work there were -
six successive attacks. The last one
accompanied with the use of flam-
ing liquids. They were all futile
The Germans were moved down by.
our curtain o. fire and the fire of cur,
infantry and they suffered heavy loss = =
es without being able to drive US from -.
our positions, all of which Were re-
tanned
I'VE made progress last night on -
the southeastern boundry of the Fum---
in wood and we rushed the enemy
from a small trench located northwest
OF the battery at Damloupe.
I'm upper Alsace in an attack by
the enemy upon work to the west OF CO
Aspach was easily repulsed.' 81