Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-15

The British also have occu-
pied Trones wood. The J.
fighting is continuing.
LONDON, July 15.-British
guns and British infantry con-
tinue to deepen the big dent in
the German lines north of the
Somme.
After forcing the second line
along a four-rnile front, Gen. Sir
Douglas Haig's forces continued
the attack today. AS result the
Germans at one point have been
pushed back to their third line Of
defense. This marks a British ad-
vance of four miles from the
original German lines as. they ex-
listed at the beginning of the cf-
fensive on July in the Fricourt-
MametZ sector.
More Than 10000 Prisoners.
The force Of the renewed British drive
is shown not only in the ground gained.
but in the number of prisoners captured.
The war office reports the taking of more
than 1000 Germans within the past
twenty -four hours. the total since the
start of the offensive now being in excess
of 10000.
While the British are thus pushing back
the Teutonic lines the French on their
right flank are remaining comparatively
inactive, having already achieved SINH
lar object They are busy at Verdun,
however, where they have repulsed an at
tack near the Avocourt redoubt, on the
extreme left Of the verdun front, while
their artillery is actively replying to bonn
bardments by the crown princes guns on
the east bank of the Meuse.
At Apremont attempted German at
tacks were broken up by the French bar
rage fire.
Official British Report.
Today's war office statement. timed at
1880 o'clock PM, is as follows:
"Al continues to go well on the Brit
ish front, and at one point We forced
the enemy back to his third system of
defense, more than four miles to the
rear of his original front trenches at
Fricourt and MametZ.
I'm the last twentyfour hours we
have captured over 1000 prisoners. IN
cluding a regimental commander OF
the Sd Guards Division. and the total
number of prisoners taken by the Brit
ish since the battle began now ex-
ceeds 10000. Large quantities OF war
material also have fallen into our
hands,
A statement issued last night said
that fierce German counter attacks
made in an attempt to regain some OF
the ground taken yesterday, were COM
pletely crushed by the British fire. Its
text followS:
Gives Details of Driye.
.Tt Is now possible to give further
details of the action begun at day.
break this morning. Having driven the
enemy back step by step to his second
system of defense, the period from July
ii to July 12 was mainly spent by our
troops in bombarding formidable enemy
positions and in making other neces-
sary preparations for further ad-
vance.
This morning, after an intense bonn
bardment the assault was launched at
3:25 am. The enemy was driven from
his trenches on the whole froAt of at =
tack and many prisoners felleinto our
hands.
..Fierce fighting continued all day. as
a result of which we have steadily in
creased our gains and now are in pos
session of the enemy's second position
from Bazantin- -le-Petit to Longueval,
both villages inclusive, and the whole
of the Trones wood.
I'm the Trones wood We released a
marty of the Royal West Kent Regiment
who. separated from our own troops in
the recent fighting, and surrounded by
Germans, had held out in the northern
end of the wood for forty-eight hours.
1.-TWO determined counter attacks on
our new positions were Simplicity
crushed by our fire. Late.2sa the day,
a fter a fierce counter ATTACK, the Ger
mans succeeded in recapturing the viii
laRe of Bazentin-le-Petit, but were at
once driven out again by our infantry.
The whole villege is once more in our
hands"
Germans Repulsed on Meuse.
PARIS. July Is. 1880 p.m--A violent
artillery duel continues in the Fleury
sector. the war office announced today.
A German attack on a trench north
east Of the Avocourt redoubt was res