New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-06
Fighting on Somme May
Be Start of Allies Spring
Offensive
TRENCHES RETAKEN,
BERLIN ASSERTS
French Have Not Yet
Struck-Repulse Attacks
Near BarleuX
fRr csblc % Tic Trhnne.l


London, Feb. 5.-The Allies spring
offensive may already have been
launched. Following the interlinked
trench raids, which have swept from
the sea TO Switzerland. the West front
fighting has centred on the Somme and
is rapidly developing into a first class
engagement. with the British hammer
ing their way toward Baupaume from
both south and east.
The British smashed forward again
last night northeast of Gueudecourt and
captured 500 yards of enemy trenches
as well as a machine gun and seventy
prisoners, including two officers. Two
night counter attacks by the Germans
were thrown back without the enemy
gaining any advantage. BRUSH lom-
mics" also pierced the German lines at
Bouchavennes, Pys and Grandcourt,
though these operations seem to have
been raids and not holding attacks.
General Haig reports that his troops
are holding all the new gains east OF
Beaucourt and that the positions nave
been consolidated. In four unsuccess-
full counter attacks. says tonight OF
fetal report, the Germans lett thirty
nine prisoners. including an oficer' IN
their old trenches.
An earlier official statement from
Berlin reported the recapture OF almost
all these trenches, together with nun
bred British prisoners. The GermahS
also chronicled the repulse of repeated
British attacks north of Beaucourt ana
east of Grandcourt, to the south OF rvs
as we'll as along the high road between
Gueuedecourt and Beaulencourt.
This means that the British are drlv-
inc forward on the southern sector of
a circle swung around Baupaume on
radius of not more than four or five
miles and at many places have bitten
well into the rim.
Must Penetrate Maze of Trenches
They must penetrate a perfect maze
of trench defences, which the Germans
have had all winter to prepare, before
they reach their objective. But II they
win the present attacks they Will con-
troll the ridge which starts at Beau
mont and runs south across the Ancre
to the Albert Baupaume road, thus
gaining an elevation superior to any
artillery platform the Germans can IN
terpose between their lines and Bau-
paume.
The famous "Somme mud" is now
memory. The ground is hard and firm,
permitting massed attacks on large
scale. The chief difficulty is the com.
parative shortness and uncertainty OF
the light for artillery observation,
though conditions in this regard are
improving every day. Altogether 1t
looks not only as if everything in the
west were ripe for the "big drive" but
that it had actually begun so far as the
British are concerned.
The French have not yet struck.
Paris reports the repulse Of an enemy
attack last night south of the Somme,
near Barleux Otherwise the French
commanders have remained content
with the feeling out" process, prose-
cutting several successful incurslons
into the German lines in the Cham,
brette and Pont-a-Mousson sectors and
in Alssce.
Nivelle Returning from Italy
General Nivele, commander in chief,
is now on his way back 20 France
after spending several days at the ltal-
ian headquarters as the guest Of Cen
eral Cadorna.
The Belgians report blowing up a
small German post north OF the FIRE.
quently mentioned "ferryman's house.
On the East front the intense cold
has. for the most part, held the fight
ing men in their trenches. Petrograd
reports the continuance of the German
attacks at Kalnzem. in the Riga sec
tor. and also at Linden. but declares