The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-07-06
BRITISH CAPTURE
FR|COURT IN BIG
DRIVE IN WEST
French Also Report New Gains
Against Germans.
$500 PRISONERS ARE TAKEN
Berlin Admits Enemy Advanced Both
North and South of the River
5@4' Somme--Teutons Fail to
Regain Thiaumont.
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London, July 3.-Furious German
counter-attacks failed to halt the
French and British on the. second day
of their offensive. The Berlin official
report admits gains of the allies both
north and south of the River Somme
The German stronghold at Fricourt
was taken by the British, and the
French have captured stone quarry,
heavily fortified, east of Curlu.
Peronne, another German stronghold
and an Important base, is threatened
by advances both from the north and
south. 49,
South of the Somme the French
have penetrated the second line of Ger
man defenses, capturing the village of
Franz and the Mereaucourt woods, ac-
cording to the French official report is
sued at midnight. A footing was
gained by the French between the
river and Asservillieres s..-. -,
During the two days advance the
French have captured 5000 and the
British $500 prisoners. 5".s'. '..'.
The French offensive apparently is
about to extend to the Champagne re-
gion, accommodating parties having
4 penetrated the German trenches.
: The British ana French advance is
aimed at Peronne, both from the north
and the south. This city Is an impor-
tant base.
In the Verdun fighting the French
held the Thiaumont Notifications
against heavy attacks.
French Advance Continues.
The French official report follows:
ITO the north of the Somme the
throughout the day in the region of
Hardecourt and Curlu. East of Curlu
we have captured quarry, which had
been powerfully organized by the Ger
mans.
TO the south of the Somme we have
gained a footing at numerous points in
..aile second German line, between the
river and Assevilliers. The village of
Franz fell into our hands, together with
the wood of Mereaucourt, farther TO
the east.
1.-The number of unwOunded prison
ers captured by the French troops is
more than 5000, of whom 100 are Of
ficerS. We have also taken a number
of cannon and great deal of war ma
>terial. Thanks to our complete and
efficaciOus artillery preparation and
also our infantry, our losses were very
small.
ION the front north of Verdun there
were no infantry actions during the
day. The bOmbardment continues ac-
lively in the region of hill No. 304 and
the sectors of Fleury and DamlOup.
"Our aviators caused three captive
balloons to catch fire in the region of
Verdun. Sergeant Chainat brought
down his fifth German machine, which
was smashed by its fall near Peronne.
During the night of July 1 and 2 one
of our air squadrons dropped 4S shells
on the railway station of Longuyon
eight on the station of Thionville, and
sixteen on the station of Dun. An
other squadron threw 80 shells on the
station at Brieulles.
During the day IL of our aero
planes bombarded the station at
Amagne-Lucquy. Sixty shells were
thrown on the buildings and railway
tracks. A train was destroyed"
....,5 Berlin Admits Somme Retseat.
1.-The Germans threw some heavy
caliber shells in the direction of Nancy.
Others were fred little later against
the Belfort region.
About three o'clock in the morning
sSono 1pnT,
dropped number of bombs on the
open city of Luneville. We have taken
note of this for reprisals."
The British official report follows:
Substantial progress has been made
in the vicinity of Fricourt, which was
captured by our troops. Up to noon
500 more prisoners had been taken in
the operations between the Ancre and
Somme, bringing the total up to $500,
including those captured on other
parts of the front at night"
The Berlin official statement fol-
lows:
western theater--The great Anglo
French offensive in massed attack,
which had been extensively prepared
for months past, began yesterday on a
front of 25imiles after strong artillery
and gas pqeparatfSfS fol" six days on
both sides of the Sdinnie and Ancre
brook. From Gommecourt as far as
the region of La Boisei,e the enemy OBJ
tanned no advantage worthy of mention
heavily shelled first linei nto position
ION the other hand, he was success
full in penetrating several points in the
first line trenches of our division in the
region abutting on both banks of the
Somme and was able to advance. This
division had to be withdrawn from the
arranged for checking an advance
from the first to the second
lines. The materials in the first line
which could not be moved were rem
dered useless.
There We're many artillery actions