Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-27
BULLETIN.

Wy tilV lVlSSSt oh tiS
Somme last night to the east Of Eau
court L'Abbayc, north OF Flers. says
the official statement issued by the
German army headquarters today. The
conquest OF the villages on the line
of Gueudecourt and Bouehavesnes,
the statement adds, must .be recog-
nized,
London, Sept. 26.-The British
have entered Combles on the Somme
front, the war office announced today,
and are overcoming the resistance OF
the Germans.
More than 1900 prisoners taken in
the fighting of the last twenty-four
hours have already been counted and
large amount OF war material has
been captured. The announcement
follows
Yesterdays operations were en-
tirely successful. The preparation
and execution OF THE attack by the
artillery and infantry and the CO.
operation between them were in all
respects admirable. More than l,500
prisoners already have passed
through the collecting stations and
more are arriving. Much war ma
terial has been captured, but the
amount cannot yet be estimated.
Further progress has been made
during the night and this morning.
A strong redoubt which had held out
between Les Boehufs and Gueude-
court now has been captured and the
garrison made prisoners.
"Our troops entered Combles from
the west and are overcoming the en-
emy's resistance. There the enemys
losses were very severe"
French Penetrate Cemetery.
Paris, Sept. 26.--Continuing their
offensive north of the Somme the
French last night captured all the
village of Fre9icourt and penetrated
the Combles cemetery.
Violent counter attacks were made
by the Germans last night on the
Verdun front between Thiaumont
works and Fleury. These assaults
were checked by the French artillery
and rifle fire.
Battle Lasts All Night.
Fighting continued all night north
Of the Somme, the Germans making
desperate efforts to stem the tide
which is engulfing Coml les. Accord
ing to latest advices reaching Paris,
the allies have so far succeeded in
clinging to their gains and have even
improved their positions slightly.
From the south of Morval, held by
the British, to the French positions
south of Fregicourt, distance Of only
about 1900 yards, was the only part
of the loop around Combles which il
remained to close. That is now prac-
tically accomplished since the fire of
the English and French crosses, and
the situation of the Germans in
Combles is worse than precarious, in
the view of the allied officers.
Valuable as Defensive Point.
Combles, a town of some 1000
population before the war, had been
rendered OF small strategic importance
to the allies by their long continued
encircling movement. 1t has been OF
notable value to the Germans, how
ever, because as long as they clung to
it the French-British freedom OF ac-
ton in pushing their offensive num-
bers toward Bapaume and Peronne.
on either side OF it, was hampered.
Turned into a strongly fortified po-
sition by German defensive ingenuity,
it has persistently held fast like a
rock in the course of a turbulent
stream that has bad to be blasted
loose before the channel was fully
opened up. .r.
This process has only been accom-
plished by long continued, severe and
costly effort on the part Of the allies.
Driving in from the south, the French
successfully swept Murepas, Leforest
and finally reached Fregicourt, mile
east of Combles. More slowly, but
Continued on Page Three. Column Fve.)