New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-02
GERMANS PIERCE
LINES ON S0MME
Win Positions Near
GinChy in Furious
Assaults.
"a TEUTON AEROS
BROUGHT TO EARTH
Allies Lose Eight Ma
chimes in Course
of Day.

fortnight ago. Attacking on front OF
n mile and half near Ginchy, the Ger
mans succeeded, after being hurled
back four times, in penetrating the
British lines at two points. This ad-
vantage, however, is expected to be
shortlived, as the Teutons are hold
ing precarious positions on narrow
frontage.
The Germans employed strong forces
in this counter assault. Following up
an intense hombardment Of the posi-
tons attacked and Of those on either
side. the Teutons charged on a front
of 5000 yards between Ginchy and
High Wood. Caught under the fire OF
the heavy British guns, the attackers
suffered severely in their first four as
saults and were unable TO pierce the
Allied lines. These attacks so weak
ened the defenders, however, that the
Teutons succeeded in their fifth at
tempt.
South of the Somme the French
again delivered strong attacks against
the Estrees- BarleuX-Soyecourt front,
but counter assaults by the Germans
eventually cost them all the gains they
made. Between the Disc and the Aisne
a surprise attack by the French troops
before Nouvron was successful.
Extraordinary aerial activity marked
the day along the whole west front
Paris announced tonight that twelve
German planes had been brought TO
earth or destroyed. London reported
an equal number, and Berlin claimed
the destruction of eight Allied ma
chimes.
British Statement.
To-night's British official report says:
Further details of the hostile at
tack of yesterday indicate that the Ger
man casualties were very severe.
Besides being met everywhere with
rifle fire the Germans came under con-
centrated fire at various places from
trench mortars and massed machine
guns, while at several places our ar
tillery obtained excellent targets.
"There was great aerial activity yes
terday and many combats with the
enemy. Five of his machines were de-
stroyed and at least seven others were
driven down damaged. We undertook
several bombing expeditions when
were successful. Five OF our aeroplanes
were lost"
An earlier announcement read:
Subsequent to his attempts to attack
High Wood, reported in last nights
communique, the enemy made further
counter-attack yesterday afternoon and
evening on front of some 3,OOO yards
between Ginchy and High Wood. These
counter-attacks were preceded by an
intense bombardment on the front at
tackled and on each side OF 1t.
considerable forces were employed
by the enemy. Five attacks In all were
made. Four of these were driven back
with heavy losses to the enemy. AT
the fifth attempt he succeeded in pene-
trating TO our advanced trench line on
a small frontage at two points only.
"To the north we successfully en-
Gagged several batteries east of Beauv-
rains and caused big explosion in that
area. Gas was liberated by US from the
Ypres salient with satisfactory re-
suits"
Three German Aeros Felled.
The French communique issued to-
night says:
felled during the afternoon by our spe-
cial anti-aircraft guns. Two fell on the
near Douaumont.
About 8 o'clock this afternoon an
enemy aeroplane dropped two bombs on
Geromagny. The material damage was
insignificant. One man was wounded.
An earlier statement said:
"Between the Disc and the Aisne we
carried out surprise attack on
German trench before Nouvron, taking
some prisoners.
an Apremont Forest the enemy made
a weak and unsuccessful attack at
Croix st. Jean.
Notwithstanding the prevalence OF
mist and clouds on the greater part of
our front, our flying services were par
ticularly active. On the Somme front
four German machines were brought
down. One Of them, fred on with
machine gun at very close quarters by
Warrant Officer Dorme, crashed to the
ground near Manaucourt. This Is the
eighth machine brought down by this
officer. The other three were brought
down southeast of Peronne. Two others
fell in a damaged condition IN the
same region.
an the Champagne an aviatik, seri-
ously damaged in an aerial encounter,
fell inside the German lines north OF
Somme-py. Another enemy machine
was forced by the fire of our special
guns 70 land northeast of Somme-
Suippes. The two aviators were capt
ured. Finally, near Rioquebourg, a
German machine landed within our
lines on account of engine trouble.
The passengers were captured"
German Report.
The German announcement reads:
Attempted French attacks between
Maurepas and Clery were frustrated
by our fire.
"A counter attack delivered by US
again put us in possession Of ground
we had lost previously near Tongue
val and Delville Wood.
South Of the Somme n French at
tack which was expected, in view OF
the artillery preparation of the last
few days-was begun in the evening
The enemy directed his main pressure
against the BarleauxSOyccourt front
Bitter hand-to-hand fighting devel-
opcd. Counter attacks delivered by
Saxon regiments in the Estrees-Soyc-
court sector put a speedy end TO the
enemy's preliminary advance and
drove him back TO his original posi-
tOns.
ask acroplanes were shot down in
aerial battles IN the Somme sector
and one i'm the Meuse district. An
other machine was brought down east
Of Yprcs by our anti-aircraft guns"