Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-27


mandOvilIers has succeeded In cap
turing a strongly fortified wood,
the war office announced today.
London, Sept 27, (11:45 a. m.)-Be-
tween 5000 and 1000 prisoners were
taken by the British in Mondays and
Tuesdays fighting on the Somme front,
according to a delayed portion OF Cen
eral Haig's report of Tuesday night
which was given out today. The re-
port says:
THE battle continued violently dur
ing the day over the whole front be-
tween the Somme and the Ancre. Our
troops were successful everywhere,
carrying out their attacks most brill
-iiantiy During the last As hours be-
tween 5000 and 1000 prisoners were
taken"
The British again advanced on the
Somme front last night, the war office
announced today. The greatest sue
cess was won in the direction OF Eau
court L'Abbaye.
British Front in France, Sept. rs,
(via London, Sept. 81, 4:05 a. ny
The capture of COMPLIES was one OF
the most picturesque incidents in the
whole course of the great Somme Of
fensive. 1t marked the opening OF
todays forward surge of the British
and French forces which reached It's
climax in the capture OF Gueudecourt
and Thiepval.
All night long bitter fighting had
been in progress and with dawn the
battle broadened to include the whole
British left. Combles fell as the sun
rose on a perfect summer day. In the
early hours Of the morning the British
took an orchard in the northern out
clyf rfc nd "A
liminary Smelling. they charged the
trenches on the edge OF the village.
The trenches were empty when they
reached them. At the same time the
French, dashing forward on the other
side of the village, pushed VIGOROUSLY
forward into the heart of the village.
Dead and Wounded In Piles.
Combles had labyrinth of dugouts
and well fortified cellars but at the
last practically no defense was made.
Those Germans who had not managed
to escape when the town was hope
lessly surrounded were taken prisoner.
Cellars and dugouts were full OF
wounded
Having cleared Combles Of any
stray Germans the British and French
moved on side by side to further at
tacks
One of the most striking features OF
the fighting last night and today was
the surprisingly slight resistance Of
fered at Morval and Combles by the
Germans, according 10 British officers.
Some German trenches taken yester-
day were lightly occupied or not at all.
In other instances the allied COM
manders stated that considerable
bodies OF Germans threw down their
rifles promptly as soon as the attack
ers approached their trenches.
Resist Most at GueudecOrt.
Yesterday the British found the
strongest defense made in front OF
Gueudecourt. There the Germans
used their machine guns with tenacity
and unyfelding courage. The British
resumed the attack today and tonight
all the village is in their possession.
Both today and yesterday the Ger
mans showed an inclination to with
draw their guns Immediately they
were in any danger.
Meantime the British continue To
pound the whole line with their SEEM
ingly inexhaustible supply OF shells,
leaving the Germans in doubt as TO
what sector will be the next TO be at
tackled by the infantry
ThiepVal Is Captured.
About midday today the British left
had its turn In the region OF Thiepval.
at the other extreme OF the battle
front from Combles. Here the fight
ing line joins the old German front
trench line and the Germans, in their