New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-12
Foch Drives Wedge Nearer
Goal, Prepares for
Flank Attack.
BRITISH STRENGTHEN
LINES ALONG SOMME
Advance Toward Martinpuich
and Repulse German Coun-
ter Charges.
fRy Cable 10 The Tribune ]


seriously threatened by the French ad-
vance in Picardy. Foch's troops re-
turned TO the attack this afternoon
ana wrested from the Germans the line
along the ridge running from point
south of Maurepas to Hem.
The possession Of these heights gives
the French a vantage ground from
which they can easily push westward
and flank Combles. which is junction
pcint of roads leading to Bapaume.
North of Hem wood they took by storm
strongly fortified quarry and two
small woods. These gains strengthen
the position on the Maurepas ridge
Thus Foch is driving a wedge into
the German line, with its apex pointed
directly at Combles. As in the earlier
DAYS of the offensive. the next French
move doubtless will be to widen this
wedge both northward and eastward.
This advance will bring Foch's line
closer to Combles and straighten the
font TO Peronne. at the same time
giving the Allies another east and west
Inc from which the Germans can be
attacked on the flank.
British Strengthen Lines.
The British are making no spectacu-
lar gains. but are strengthening their
pcsitions and nibbling their way slowly
toward Martinpuich. The fighting on
Hcig's line is unceasing, but the heavy
blows of the first days have been sue
ceeded by a steady battering that is
weakening the Teuton line and keeping
the enemy from Withdrawing any men
20 other fronts.
For the French to-day's fighting
again demonstrated that the Germans
cannot withstand a sudden stroke. An
other of the sharp thrusts that have
marked the Allied strategy in the West
won for the French several trenches
and other strong positions.
Berlin reports almost continuous at
tacks on both the British and the
French fronts. The heavy guns keep
up the constant chorus, presaging
greater activity soon. None of the
numerous Allied attacks has succeeded,
according TO Berlin, but the German
reports do not tell of single counter
attack. Apparently the offensive along
the Somme is confined to the Allied
forces entirely.
Around Verdun there has come an
other lull in the battle Paris reports
tonight, however, that the first and
second lines of the French were bonn
barded heavily. A renewal of the fight
for the fortress seems imminent.
German Trenches Carried.
To-night's French statement says:
"To the north of the Somme the
afternoon was marked by an infantry
attack which was brilliantly carried out
and which succeeded completely. Sew
eral German trenches were captured by
our soldiers, and our troops established
\ new line on the ridge to the south of
Msurepas and along the road connect
ms that village and Hem.
~To the north of the Hem wood a
powerfully fortified quarry and two
small woods fell into our hands.
"ln the course Of this fighting we
took prisoner $50 unwounded men and
captured 10 machine guns.
ITO the south of the Somme the ar
tillery fighting is intense.
"On the Verdun front our first and
second lines in the regions of Chattan-
court and in the Douaumont-Fleury sec
tor have been bombarded."
French Gain on Mouse.
An earlier announcement reads:
North Of the Somme our artillery
directed a destructive fire against the
dcfences of the enemy In the course
of our operations we took prisoners
and captured two machine guns in the
small wood northeast of Hardecourt.
"0n the left bank Of the Mouse
(Verdun 'front.' we made a surprise at
tack on a German trench east Of Hill
304 and brought back prisoners. On
the right bank Of the river there was
the usual artillery fighting, as we'll as
skirmishing with grenGdes northwest
of Thiaumont work. On the remainder
of the front intermittent artillery
fighting occurred.
"On the night of August 9-l0 French
aerial squadrons bombarded the railway
station and barracks at Vouzieres and
the station at BaZancourt"
British Report.
To-night's British communication
says:
the situation is unchanged. On the
rest Of the British front there is nor
nal trench warfare"
An earlier announcement read
Last night the enemy opened heavy
machine gun and rife fire on High
Wood, followed by an artillery bar
rage on the back area. We replied
effectively, and no hostile attack de-
veloped.
"North Of Bazantin-le Petit we made
further progress, taking a short length
Of trenches and inflicting considerable
loss on the enemy. At 5:45 a. m. the
enemy nhue utlffHiNeu counter AZ
tack on the trenches captured by US.
This attack was repulsed with further
heavy loss 10 the enemy.
Northwest of Pozieres we also ad-
vanced our line slightly at certain
places.
NEAR Neuville-St. Vast we exploded
mine last night and occupied the
crater with little opposition. South
of Ypres We successfully raided a