New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-26
British Advance to
Within 3 Miles of
Bapaume.
CRASH THROUGH
SEVERAL LINES
Troops Crumple Up Ger
mans Second Line
DefenceS.
fRr Cahin % Tne I 1-fhune |

London, Sept. 25.-The Allied
troops smashed forward to-day
along a fifteen-mile front north Of
the Somne. In blow as heavy as
any they have struck in the Picardy
offensive, they captured three towns,
broke through several lines OF
trenches and took large number Of
prisoners.
The British and the French moved
forward in combined attack.
Haig's troops assailed the German
line from Martinquich TO Combles, a
distance of six miles, while Foch's
men advanced from Combles TO the
river a distance of nine miles.
Strong obstacles faced the British,
but before the battle was over they
had moved forward a mile along tho
whole six-mile front. Morval and
Les Boeufs, lying directly south Of
Bapaume, fell, and with them sew
eral lines Of the new trenches bull,
since the Allies broke through the
original defences.
Morvsl Hub ~ Battle
Morval was the hub of furious
battle. This village had been convert
ed into veritable fortress, a maze
Of underground passages, trench
lines and wire entanglements. Sit
uated on a hill, its capture was
formidable task. But the sudden.
ness of the dash and the thorough
ness of the artillery preparation soon
found a way into it.
By these gains Haig's line was
brought within three miles of Bspsume
and more positions along the important
road from Albert were carried. The
seizure of Morval cuts the last road
from Combles. This, IN conjunction
with the French advance to-day, makes
the encirclement of that village com
plete.
Foch's troops gained half a mile
along almost all the nine-mile line
which they assailed. Rancourt, another
village on the national highway which
runs through Peronne and Bspsume
was carried in the first charge.
Combles Cut on.
Continuing the attack, the frcncn
drove northward, and forged forward
20 the outskirts Of Fregincourt, lying
northeast of Combles. Thus the only
gap in the circle around Combles is ;he
scant mile between the Morysl Com
bes road and Fregincourt. Munltion-
ing Of the village is now impossible.
Further south, where Mont st. Quen-
tin, the key 10 Peronne. is the present
objective, the French advanced along
the whole line from Bouchavesnes 20
the river. This brings them within
half a mile of Mont. ST. Quentin snd
extends their hold on the national
highway.
This new push was expected. The in
tense artillery action of the last few
days and the ceaseless work of the air
men pressged a renewal Of the Somm'
offensive as soon as the weather per
mitted il. In their last thrusts the
British and the French had won com
manding positions, from which = re-
sumption of the drive was easy.
The quickness with which to-day's
attack succeeded indicates that the
Allies now dominate the German posi-
tions for a considerable stretch. Their
progress to-day was made downhill, and
the Germans, with nothing but their
recently constructed works 10 rely
upon. could not Withstand II.
For the alternate blows striking
once south OF the river and again north
has been substituted the combined
assault. By breaking through the first
systems Of German defence, the Allied
generals are able to move according 10
a larger scheme. To-dsy's success is
the first evidence Of that.
The Allied drive is pushing eastward,
seeking 10 outhank the Germans both at
Peronne and Bspaume. Through the
gap cut in the national highway Foch's
troops arc forcing in wedge. They
have now hammered their line in well
beyond the road, and have moved close
TO the last defences OF Peronne.
On the Bapaume plateau Hsigs
troops are attempting similar out
fanking movement. They are now we'll
on the Bapaumc plateau. Moving along
the edge Of this plain, they IAN turn the
German position in tho stronghold
which is their first objective.
Combles cannot hold out long. Th~
salient the Allied drive has cut around
it is the nsrrowest the ricsrdy OF.
fensive-sn offensive that advances b.
pocketing the desired positions-h
witnessed. With Combles London cA-