The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-03

"Substantial progress has been made in the vicinity of Fricourt, which was cap tured by us at ? p. m. today.
 up to noon today some 800 more pris- oners had been taken in the operations between the Ancre and the Somme, bringing the total up to $500, including those captured on other parts of the front last night
 British general headquarters reports to- night as follows:
 Heavy fighting has taken place to day in the area between Ancre and the Somme, especially about Fricourt and La Boisselle.
 "Fricourt was captured by our troops about D. m., and remains in our hands and some progress has been made east of the village.
 "In the neighborhood of La Boisselle the enemy is offering stubborn resist , ance, but our troops are making satis- tity of war material has fallen into our hands, but details are not available SITUATION IS FAVORABLE "On either side of the valley of the Ancre the situation is unchanged. The general situation may be regarded as fa- vorable. alter information of the en- emy's loss shows that our first estimates were too low.
 Yesterday our aeroplanes were very active in cooperation with our attack north of the Somme, and afforded valu- able assistance to our operations Nu- merous enemy headquarters and railway eenters were attacked with bombs. Tn one of these raids our escortng aeroplanes were attacked by 20 Fokkers, which were driven off. Two enemy ma chimes were seen to crash to earth and were destroyed.
 Some long distance reconnaisances | were carried out in spite of numerous attempts by enemy machines to frustrate the enterprises. Three of our aeroplanes are missing. Our kite balloons were in the air the whole day" GERMANS ADMIT LOSSES Berlin, July 2.-(Via London )-In the great Anglo-French offensive begun yes
 
 north and south of the River Somme, the German official statement issued today says, the entente allied troops were suc- cessful in penetrating the German first line trenches at several points. 1 The German division defending these | trenches, it is added had to be with drawn to other prepared positions. 1 From Gommecourt to La Bosselle, the 1 communication says, the British and French sustained very heavy losses and obtained advantages worth mention l ing.
 | The statement reads:
 Western theatre The great British and French offensive in massed attack which has been extensively prepared for many months past. began yesterday aft | CT strong artillery and gas preparation l lasting six days. over front of 25 miles on both sides of the river Somme and | likewise the Ancre brook 1 From Gommecourt to the region of La Boisse!le the enemy obtained no ad- vantages worthy of mention. He sus- tained. however. very heavy losses.
 ''On the ether hand, he was successful in penetrating at several points the first | line trenches of our division in the region i abutting both banks of the Somme and was able to advance, This division had tc Lbe withdrawn from the heavily shel, ed first line trenches into the positions ar. ranged for checking an advance from the l first to the second lines The materia in the first line which was immovable ard which had been rendered useless. as is customary in such cases. was lost
 Tn connection with these extensive operations, there was many artillery ac.
 tions and many minor attacks on the ladjoining front to the west and south
 west of 1ahuree They were everywhere Unsuccessful.
 "On the left bank of the Mouse at Hill BOA French trench sections were captured
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