The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-03
RRNCH CLOSING
IN ON PERONNE


Xf &S
Do1nl dispstchcs from the German
80 french war offices this after
1890 and by press dispatches from
Efh4 headquarters of the British
~ rfench last night scored the
noGe I'm poftant success OF the last
- hours Of the great allied often
ctve. They battered In the German
llnes On a tnree-miie strOnt direct
< ~ south OF the Somfne The disor
5 oanisod German regiments were
1rissn rapidly eastward, the French
(. nlvapcing 10 within Ave miles OF the
Soifwsy town OF Peronne, the irnme-
Z liste objective Of their offensive.
BY occupying the town OF Heroe'
( court. French troops advanced their
I Iinss eastward nearly two miles"
The German Official statement this
afternoon admitted a German re
tlrement south Of the Somme under
heavy pressure by the French e'''
announced the repulse OF all Anglo
Fronch attacks north OF the river.
This statement was partly borne out
q q press dispatch from British
army headquarters this afternoon
ginning the capture OF German
posjtion near Fricourt. but descrio'
Ia the Mutation as unchanged but
~unpronising."
The most violent hghting was go
NJ on this morning at LsBoisolle'
Sosst OF Albert, which WAS captured
- the British on Saturday.
Tbs Germans are ombarding Mon
(auban, another village taken by the
british In Saturdays advance.
British guns were cannonading
German positions al Thiepval early
today.
PARIS, July Sin brilliant
n1eht attack that threw the Ger
nans back on wide front, French
troops last night captured the vii
Are OF Herbecourt, advancing TO
within ave miles OF the heart OF
.refoane, one OF the immediate OBJ
1octives OF the allied offensive.
The advance was made on ave-
kilometer front (about three miles,,
IL French swept forward from the
lGireaucourt wood, near the River
nomme. to q point west OF the vii
InSe Of Assevillers.
"The combats south OF the Somme
woss entirely favorable TO the
Ufpnch,~ the war ONCE stated to-
~. ~During Sunday evening and
ounday night. the French entirely
soocupied on a nve-kilometers front
- two second position German
trenches between Mireaucourt Wood
md mp to Assevillers.
"Between these two points. dur
ins the course Of a brilliant encoun-
80, the French carried Herbecourt
Village.
~Toward Awre, In the region OF
Iancourt, the Desloges Wood was
eaeaned OF the enemy by French
Gronade "Reminiscences"
NORTH of the Somme, there were
- oerman attacks during the night
- eur newiy.gained positions"
~ Aghting on the 25-mile front
~ which the British and French
ofmies are driving eastward to-
Ward the Peronne-Cambria-Lille
railway 10 causing huge losses IN
nou. No estimates OF the British
~ French Losses have reached Lon
lon. but the German losses In the
Inrst Is hours are understood to have
excseded 10000.
IN the village OF Dompierre alone
800 German dead were counted
alter the French regiments had
fought their way in with bayonets
ana bombs. Prisoners said many OF
M dead were men wounded by shell
{ nre before the Infantry attack began
a'he artillery's curtain fire made II
(. lrapoesible to effect their rescue
they bled to death under the hot
oun-
The Anglo-Trench offensive, aft
\ ~ the first thrust deep into the Ger
man lines, has now resolved itself
into q steady rolling movement. with
'Bapaume and Peronne apparently
Z the immediate detectives. The Ger
h man counter-attacks arc hourly
erowing more vigorous and have
chhcked and bent back the British
\ M which advanced rapidly into the
village Of Serre when the offensive
oooned Saturday morning.
Ine Bvitish center. north OF Albert
\ Il making slow. methodical gains
lhough also under terrific COULTER
attack.
East OF Albert where the terrific
Britlsh right links up with the
French left. the bloodiest struggle
q kOing on. Driven out o: iaBrois
4 1olle. Frlrourt. Mametz. Contalmai-
BON and Monteauban. the Germans
Were hehtiag with desperation to
enve the important highway lines OF
1nlnmunication.
vs. 0outh of the Somme the French
4 placed themselves within bare