New-York tribune., 1916-07-23

proved grave obstacles. Manretz. Contai-
maison, Montauban and the two Bazentins
had been transformed into fortresses and
the fighting was precisely like that which
the French encountered north of Arras
last year. The first days of the British
operation were exceedingly discouraging,
as remarked last week.
But toward the end of the second week,
having made material progress, the Brit
ish faced north and began to strike a.:
the southern side Of the Bapaume salient
The little sketch map indicates the towns
attacked. the direction Of the attack and
the meaning, so far as the Bapaume salient
is concerned, of the attack.
Slow British Gains.
By last Sunday the British had Tongue.
val, the two Bezentins; on Monday they
took Ovillers, which had held out val
iantly, and were in the outskirts Of
Pozieres. They were thus astride the two
main roads leading to Bapaume from the
south; they were advancing toward Ba-
paume, five miles away, and as they ad-
vanced they were narrowing the Bapaume
salient. The last bulletins that come t.
hand record another half-mile gain on this
front.
Meantime the French failed TO advance
and take Barleux or Villers-C -Carbonnel To-
the south and thus threaten the rear of
the Germans holding Chaulnes. The Ger
mans, on their part came west out Of
Peronne and attacked the French in
Biaches and south Of Biaches, making 4
slight gain, but really accomplishing moth
ing important.
Such, in very brie: compass, is the
history Of the Somme operation to date
AS it stands, the French and British have
SuI IHiouSH SOOu uedI VI bHe NCi Hidh
second line trenches, more of the first, but
have made no material progress against
the third. They are standing before them,
they have entered them in places, notably
north Of Bazentin, but have had to retire.
A Comparison with Verdun.
Now, to compare the present with past
drives, it may be said that the French
have advanced about as far in their pres
ent operation as the Germans have pene-
trated toward Verdun. One operation
took two weeks, the other four months, but
the penetration has been on a much mar
rover front. The French and British
have respectively advanced about twice as
far as they did in their September fighting
in Champagne and Artois.
Something less than $4,000 prisoners
have been taken, which is less than the
French alone captured in Champagne, but
the British have taken more than they
too at Loos. The French report their
Losses to have been surprisingly slight the
British concede they have lost very heav-
lily. The British assert that the German
losses were also great. Perhaps a quar-
ter of million men have been put out in
this operation so far, with the British loss
above half, the French small and the Ger
man not less than $4,000. and all losses
may be much heavier.
Only Beginning.
II the operation should stop now, It
would have accomplished nothing Of any
real importance; it would be an Allied de-
feat. and a very considerable defeat. more
morally than the defeat in
Champagne last fall, which had some SEM
blance of a victory-a false semblance, for
the French failed 10 do what they set out
TO do. The Allied success so far is un-
important, save as il may be the founda-
ton for real success later.
But there is no suggestion that the op-
GRAFTON has been ended; neither Berlin
nor London reports suggest this. The
Artois- Champagne operation was over in
a week; in the third week Of the Picardy
fighting every one recognizes that it is TO
go on indefinitely And every one recog-
nizes that it resembles the Verdun. not
the Champagne, struggle; it is an effort to
wear through, not to crash through; il is |
a wearing, not a driving, attack.
So much for what has been accom-