South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-12
BRITISH CLAIM
THE CAP TURE Of
ALL FIRST LINE
English Commander in-Chiet
Haig Reports on Ten Days
Battle of the
SOmme.

gains in the battle Of the Somme,
after 10 days continuous fighting,
cover a front OF nearly eight miles
and includes the entire German first
system of defense, according to the
official report forwarded by Gen.
Haig, the British Communicating
chief on the French front. This ad-
vance includes a number of small
towns or villages and positions
which are considered OF great stra-
tegic Importance.
The British advance extended into
the German positions for a depth of
1000 10 1000 yards. Many Of the
villages were strongly fortified, the
woods were full Of trenches and
surrounded by barbed wire. and what
Gen. Haig describes as immensely
strong redoubts" had TO carried by
storm
FOch Dominates SOmme.
At the same time the French army
under Gen. Foch has moved up in
the southern section Of the Somme
until il now holds the dominating
hills around PerOnne, town which
has been strongly fortified by the
Germans and the possession of which
they are likely to contest with the
utmost determination.
The British have retaken Contal-
maison and are again in control Of
nearly the entire extent of Trones
wood and Mametz wood. There has
been desperate fighting in both of
these sectors for several days past
The French along the Somme car
ried out some minor detached opera
tons which enabled them to
strengthen their position at La Mai
sonnette, and apparently the French
are waiting for the British to
straighten out their line before max
ing the attempt to drive the Ger
mans out Of Peronne.
$4,000 Prisoners Taken.
In this great battle about $4,000
prisoners have been taken by the
Franco British forces. Of whom the
British announce they have cap
tured $500.
In the Verdun sector, the Ger
mans. unmoved by the attacks north
and south of the Somme, have sue
ceeded in gaining a foothold in the
Damloup battery, which has been a
bone Of contention for days past.
and in the French line in the Fumin
wood on the right bank Of the
Meuse. At other points the Ger
mans are carrying out a strong Of
fensive.
on the Russian front the Stokhod
sector is the central point of the
Russian advance. The Germans have
brought up strong reinforcements
and artillery to oppose the Russians.
who now are within 90 miles of
KOveL The defenseS of this town
are believed 10 be powerful. al
though there now are no natural
barriers between Gen. Brussiloff's
army and its objective. Fighting
along this line is of a furious nature.
as il was while the Russians were
the river at various points.
Report Austrians in Flight.
In southern BukOwina, PetrOgrad
reports that considerab BILE enemy
forces have been put to flight north
west OF KimpOlung. Vienna does
not refer to the fghting in Buko-
wilma and Galicia. but asserts that
Russian attacks near Sokul and
along the Stokhod have been re-
pulsed.
Up 10 July 10 the drive Of Gen.
Brussiloff had resulted in the cap
-ure of 271,62 prisoners, it Is off,
cially announced.
The Italians have captured addi-
.ional positions from the Austrians.
particularly on the Pasubio front.
Rome asserts that because Of the
Italian offensive in the Trentino sew
aral divisions OF Austrian troops al
ready on their way TO the Russian
front have been recalled.
1t is now clear that the Russian
drive in the direction Of KOvel has
brought the German offensive at
Lutsk to a standstill. and according
to the Russian communication the
Germans have brought up strong
TO defend the Stok-
hod line and Kovel Gen Brus-
silOff. however. now has the i'm
passa BILE Pinsk marshes covering his
right flank and is ia a position to
cUtfsnk the German defenses on
Kovel The huge CONGREGATIONS, no.
iced in the Russian communication
south Of the Kovel railroad, are re-
zarded in Petrograd as having been
caused by the Germans 10 cover
their own retreat and impede the
Russian advance. which is within %
miles OF KOvel. The capture OF "a
900 prisoners by the Russians in the
StokhOd and Galician battles from
July 70 July s seems 10 indicate
that the Germans have been unable
to throw in reinforcements in suffi-
cient strength to stem the Russian
advance.
Hurry Troops from Balkans.
According TO a report from Berne,
switzerland. the Austrians are hur-
riedly transferring the Iandstrun
from Serbia and Montenegro in an
attempt 10 hold back the Russians.
The difficulties confronting the cen
trail powers in meeting the all
around attack are indicated in the