Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
GERMAN NECESSITY rs KEENLY MARKED AS
ALLIES GAIN, EAST AND WEST, AND TROOP
SHIFTS FROM MANY ARENAS ARE HINDERED

in these regions robbed of its power.
The hardest fighting of the week has
been taking place between the British
and Germans in the regions Of Mametz
and Trones woods, where the important
positions have changed hands several
times and where the British have seized
BazeA Bazentin lie : Petit
| and Longueval. The British have made
| repeated gains and then lost them in
the face of the fiercest sort of enemy
counter attacks. but as the week closed
the British were shown to have regis
tered important progress.
The British are said to be firmly
holding Contamination, which is an i'm
portant strategical position, and in case
they obtain definite hold on Mametz
bring q severe cross-fire upon the Ger
man hanks, which may necessitate
| further retirement 1t would appear
that the chief British objective at the
present time is the high ridge which
separates them from the Bapaume pla-
teau, the possession of which would
force the Germans back many miles
and place them in a position the defense
OF which would be extremely hazardous.
While the progress of the British
has been slower, the French have
achieved further
French Achieve successes to the
south of the
further Successes. somme and have
approached within a mile of the i'm
portant strategical city of Peronne
Peronne at the present time is de-
clared to be under the noses of French
guns, while the French are able to
shell heavily the Teuton armies OPP
Grating to the northward. The French,
it is declared, may make their final
attempt to storm Peronne during the
present week, and in case they sue
coed realignment of all the German
armies operating in the Somme regions
will be absolutely necessary, particu
larry should the British register fur
Their gains.
The battle of the Somme has brought
out the significant fact that the en-
tente commanders, Gen. Joffre and
Gen. Haig have, in large measure,
copied the tactics pursued by the Ger
mans in practically all of their stub
bornly contested offensives in the
eastern and western arenas. 1t has
been the practice of the Germans to
establish goal, then set out to reach
it by advancing their lines first here
ordinating and consolidating such
gains as have been registered. BY such
tactics they were able to progress
almost at will earlier in the war. The
Somme and swept over the German
first-line trenches after long and heavy
artillery bombardment. which prac-
t1cally cleared their way. Once started,
the French then took the initiative.
The French tarried and the British
pushed forward again. and. while the
gains were being consolidated and ar
tillery and munitions being brought
up for further effort, the French once
more pushed ahead with furious at
tacks. When the fact is taken into
consideration that the battle of the
Somme has been going on but fourteen
days. and that the German defensive po-
sitions are all Of the strongest character.
the allied advances have been consider
able. The French, by their impetuous
dashes. have been able to accomplish
more than have the British, but they
admit that the British have been con-
fronted with the greatest hazards and
the most stubborn opposition.
Although the battle of the Somme is
highly important. popular interest once
more is CEN
Interest Again tered in the
Centered on Verdun. about veraun,
where the crown prince evidently is
bent on pushing the battle to a sue
cessful conclusion. After 146 days of
conflict, the German forces have been
able to press within two and half
miles of the important citadel, which,
it is declared. has been practically
ruined by the Teutonic bombardments.
Although all of the important outer
fortresses, it is declared. have been
leveled, this does not indicate that the
Germans have swept all barriers from
in front of them and can take the fort
ress almost at will, for it must be re-
membered that the defenses of Verdun
are not fortresses. but an amazing sys-
TEN of interlocking trenches and
ground Notifications. The Germans
have retaken the important Doumlop
work and are firmly intrenched on the
ridge Immediately to the northeast of
Fort Souyille. Many tremendous at
tacks have been launched at the French
during the week, and, as has been the
case since the conflict started, small gains
have been registered and held But it
is through small gains at various times
that the Germans have been able to
approach within a short distance of
Verdun. The French forces northeast
of Verdun are in worse defensive DO
started and considerable speculation is
being INDUCED in by both Paris and
London as to the possibility of the
Germans breaking through.
AS was stated in previous reviews,