Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-11
BRITISH IN DRIVE
FORCE ENEMY OUT
Of CONTAMINATION
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Continued from First Page.)
attempted by the explosion of four
mines to destroy one of our trenches.
He was checked by our fire and driven
back, leaving dead and wounded. We
occupied the craters of the German
mines.
I'm the vosges south of Lusse an
attack of the enemy was broken up
with grenades. North of La Fontenelle
a surprise attack on trenches or the
enemy enabled US to penetrate first line
trenches and support trench, which
we cleared out. We brought back some
prisoners"
Outstanding French Success.
The outstanding French success of
yesterday was the capture of all the
German positions on Hill 81, the high
est point of the plateau. The first
French rush Sunday carried them to
the western slopes of this hill. on
which they made good their footing:
but the troops waiting there had been
stopped until adequate preparation
ings at the summit, which the Ger
mans had converted into small
fortress being made with more speed
and fewer casualties. They are now
IN full possession of this height. from
which they look into Peronne. $50 feet
below.
The result they claim from the whole
days fighting is command of the left
bank of the Somme from east of Feuil-
lers to a point opposite Flaucourt. the
Germans holding only few positions
on the edge of the river.
This does not mean. French military
critics admit. that Peronne can be cap
tured out of hand. The Germans. ac-
have constructed formidable defenses
outside the city. but the French believe
that these are not likely to delay the
capture long when Gen. Foch decides
the time is ripe to make 1t.
French artillery already is beginning
to throw a ring of fire around the city.
How effective that artillery now has
become is described by an officer at
tached to heavy battery on the
Somme front. who said:
Thanks to our aviators. we never
have been spotted by the enemy's air
service since we have been in our pres
ent position. Under these conditions
our work is excellent. Objects aimed
at are smashed with remarkable pre-
cision. For example, we have just fired
four shells at bridge more than four
teen miles away. Four times the avi-
alton officer. who was watching where
our shipments arrived. signaled us by
the simple word bridge"
Offensive at "Standstill.''
BERLIN, July 10, via London, July
correspondents on the west
front agree in reporting that the great
offensive is virtually at a standstill.
They also assert that it achieved no
results of practical Importance in the
week it lasted. and that what gains
were made were quite out of proper
ton to the losses suffered.
The correspondent of the Lokal An
zeiger telegraphs: The offensive has
been at a standstill for the last three
days and is shattering itself into bit
ter group of conflicts on the wall of our
second lines. Our defending forces
have damned up the advancing enemy
in basin and they are unable to unite
forces sufficient to enlarge the borders
of the basin to any extent worth not
ing"
The correspondent of the Vossische
Zeitung reports that the first week of
the offensive has not brought the en-
envy any nearer his goal" He init |
mates the possibility of an extension of
the entente allies efforts, saying: "All
kinds of signs point to the possibility |
Of an extension of the front on which |
the offensive is taking place. Demon |
STATIONS by the allies continue at La |
Bassee, Lens on the Aisne and in the |
Bots de Pretre. Places far behind our |
front are being bombarded and squad |
rons Of aviators ascend to disturb our |
and rear communications. |
The success Of all these efforts is very
scauty."