The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-09
BRITISH SWEEP
AHEAD In WEST
SOmme and Ancre Advances
Pushed Over Frozen
Ground.
GAINS MOST IMPORTANT
May Dominate Vast Wood,
Long a Menace-Belgians
Repel Germans.
GAINS MOST IMPORTANT

rewed fighting on the Somme front.
blows to-day. The important German
position on the crest Of Sally -Saillisel
hill, which practically dominates St.
Pierre Vast Wood and had resisted
many attacks. was stormed by the Brit
ish this morning
Advancing over ground which has at
last been hardened enough by winters
cold to afford a footing. the infantry de-
lvered a machinelike attack such as
those OF the French at Verdun. Every
objective mapped for them to take was
taken. and a machine gun. two German
officers and seventy-six privates were
captured.
On the hill crest. which is midway be-
tween the adjoining villages of Sally
and Saillisel and is connected with
trench systems Of the old German fourth
line, now become their first line because
Of the allied drive, the British now over
look the St. Pierre vaast Wood from the
north.
More Hard Fighting Due.
This wood. if the Somme offensive is
renewed in full strength. as there seems
every evidence II will be. will be the
scene of a struggle of great intensity.
More than suuarer 'nrffe IN area. cut
UP by several ravines and fortified by
the Germans with ingenuity that has
been described as diabolical, the wood
is a tremendous obstacle to the progress
of the Allies. The French attacks broke
down before it last fall and Sailly-Sail-
lisel and the st. Pierre Vast wood
were the rocks on which at last they
split. The position OF the British on
the hill. just north of the wood, will
be OF great value.
Not only on the Somme front proper.
however. did British troops dash for
ward TO success to-day. on both sides
of the Ancre, at the northern end OF
the Somme front, khaki clad lines
started for the German trenches. They
did not stop until they had captured
the Baillescourt farm. a fortified cluster
of buildings only three-quarters of a
mile from Miraumont. South of the
Ancre, also. they captured a trench near
GrandcouIt All told, eighty-two pris-
oners were taken here. making the total
for the day 160 men and three officers.
Also Raided Trenches.
Besides these two larger fights on the
Somme-Ancre front there was trench
fighting further south. British troops
raided the German trenches south of
Bouchavesnes. three miles south Of Sail
lisel. and brought back prisoners and a
machine gun. after killing some Germans
and bombing dugouts. German troops
tried to enter British trenches near
Gueudecourt. fve miles northwest OF
Sally, but We're driven off
On their part OF the front the Belgian
troops came to grips last night with a
considerable force of Germans for the
first time in many months. The Ger
mans tried to penetrate Belgian post
south OF Dixmude, but found King AL
berts troops ready.
The Belgians took twelve prisoners and
the Germans suffered heavily from the
Belgian fire The official statements to-
night follow:
British-We attacked this morning
an important enemy position on the
highest point OF Sailly-Saillisel Hill.
on the Somme front. We gained the
whole of our objectives and captured
a machine gun and seventy-eight pris-
oners. including two officers.
Our capture OF Grandcourt has been
followed up vigorously on both banks
of the Ancre, and considerable prog
ress has been made During the night
we attacked and captured Baillescourt
farm. on the Beaucourt- Miraumont
| road, and south of the Ancre carried
another hostile trench lying between
Grandcourt and our old front line. In
these operations we have taken a fur
ther eighty-two prisoners, including
one officer.
Heavy Gain in Month.
The ground we have gained on the
! Ancre since the new year now repre-
sents an advance Of an average depth
OF nearly three-quartets OF a mile on
a. front of over three miles.
| We also entered enemy trenches last
night south of Bouchavesnes and
brought back prisoners and a machine
gun. A number OF the enemy were
killed and dueouts were bombed.
During the night an enemy raiding
party in the neighborhood OF GueuSe-
court wac driven or by our barrlge
before reaching our line. Another
enemy raid attempted southwest OF
| La Bassee also was repulsed.
! Considerable artillery activity on
both sides continued In the neighbor-
hood OF Armenteres and Ypres We
caused a large explosion In the en-
emy's lines.
on the night OF February rs we
dropped bombs on an enemy aerodrome
with good effect. One German air
plane was destroyed yesterday In the
air fighting and three others were
driven down damaged. One of our
machines Is missing.
French Artillery Active.
French-Spirited artillery fighting
took place south of the Somme In the
regions OF Deniecourt and Lihons,
In the Argonnc, In the sector OF Bo-