The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-10
Press Closer to Railway Town
Of Peronne, Which is
Now Within Easy
Range.
MANY MORE PRISONERS
Advance Of FIve Miles Along Ten
Mile Front During tho
Past Eight
Days.
'[By Henry Wood, United Press Staff
Corresnondent

I'[By Henry Wood, United Press Staff
Correspondent
PARIS, July 10.-French troops
pressed closer to the railway town OF
Peronne, the Immediate objective of
their great offensive in furious fight
ing south of the Somme last night,
capturing German line of trenches
In the region of Barleux, southwest Of
Peronne.
At the same time the French broke
out with an attack in the Champagne
region capturing German trenches
west of Butte Le Mesnil, on 500
yard front, after three attacks.
The successful attack In the Cham
payne region, where there has been
little fighting In several weeks, ap-
parentIy was a diversion to prevent
the Germans from shifting reinforce
ments from that front to the Somme
battle ground.
The war Office in announcing these
gains today, reported a lull on the
French front OF the Somme during
last night.
BY advancing in the region Of Bar
leux. the French last night brought up
their right wing to within less than
two miles Of the Somme, south Of
Z S4OAA0. liz NAllb5o VI oluSA0o, SAP-
tured in Yesterdays fighting, lies less
than a mile northwest Of Peronne on
the Somme.
The French now threaten in their
next burst on the south bank Of the
Somme to squeeze the Germans out Of
all their positions west Of the river
in the bend Of the Somme. The Ger
mans already have Withdrawn their
heavy guns to the east bank Of the
river.
The historic city OF Peronne is now
at the mercy Of French guns. French
lines are now drawn so close that not
only long range pieces, but small
field guns are placed within easy
range OF the Peronne railway station.
From a rise of ground near Barleux,
French officers can look down upon
the town from across the river and
watch the movements of German
troops
In the fighting near Barleux last
night the French took $50 unwounded
!! prisoners In yesterdays fAhting at
Biaches, 800 Germans were captured.
During the first eight days Of the
great allied offensive the French
have advanced on fifteen kilometer
front, (about ten miles) to a depth
of from three to five miles, it was
stated semi-officiaIly today. The great
est advance was made along the south
bank of the Somme, where the cap
ture Of Biaches advanced the French
front nearly six miles from its former
position.
The war office today reported minor
activities in several other places on
the French front In the Argonne
French reconnaissance cleaned up a
German trench. North of Verdun,
the sectors of Chattancourt, F1eury
and Lausee were under bombardment
and strong German patrols were dis
persed
In the vosges, German detachments
unsuccessfully attacked French po-
sitions at LaChapelotte five times
during the night.
With British Troops.
LONDON, July 1O.-A Br1tlsh
force which captured the southern
end Of Trones wood, north of Harde-
court, in Saturday afternoons f1sht-
ing. has extended its position north
ward, General iHaig reported TO the
war office this afternoon. For for1y
eight hours heavy fighting has been
going ON in the woods. A German
counter attack was repu1lsed with
heavy enemy losses.
Altogether five desperate German
counter attacks were repulsed in the
course of the nights fighting, General
Haig reported.
British troops captured small
position near Contalmaison.
British troops captured several
hundred more prisoners on the SOM
mo front In this mornings fighting.
On the British front, farther north,
tho Germans bormbarded British po-