The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-01-26
BIG BRITISH GA|Ns|
TERRIFIC DRIVE ADVANCES
NEARLY TWO MILES ON The
SOMmE.
THREE TOWNS ARE CAPTURED
Courcelette, FIers and Martinpuich
Taken-New Armored Motorcar Ad-
vances With Infantry Over the
Trenches and Shell Craters.

London, Sept. 16.-The greater part
of the Bouleaux wood, High wood and
the towns of Flers, Martinpuich and
Courcelette have been taken by the
British, who also have captured all
the high ground between Combles and
the PoZieres-Bapaume road. according
to the official communication.
More than 1900 prisoners were cap
tured i'm the drive. The statement
reads:
THE fighting, which has been Sc
we're, resulted in our capture of vir-
Combles and the Pozieres-Bapaume
road.
Germans Resist Stubbornly.
Most of the Bouleaux wood, Flers,
High wood Martinpuich and Cource-
lette have fallen into our hands. The
enemy fought stubbornly to retain his
ground.
"Over 1900 prisoners already have
been passed back, including 90 Off
GERS, six of them being battalion COM
manders.'
Battle on Six-MiIe Front.
British Front in France, via Lon
don, Sept. 16.-At dawn the British
made the most powerful general at
tack, supported by the heaviest vol
ume of shell fire, since that of July l,
when the grand offensive began.
The attacking front extends over
six miles. from the region of Thiepval
to the junction with the French army
on the right. or practically the entire
line of the British advance of the last
ten weeks.
Having gained the whole ridge from
the eagt Of Thiepval through Ginchy
and all the old German second line
Notifications, the British made their
next step. broad stride down the
hill, piercing the newly constructed
German third line.
Capture Fiers Village.
The sweep forward during the after
noon gained the village of Flers.
brought the British to the edge Of
Martinpuich. and put the bloody
shambles OF High wood and Devils
wood, for which two most determined
c0untcr-attackS made the hardest
struggle I'm the history of the British
army. we'll behind the advancing ranks
of khaki.
The British also are close TO the VIII
lage of Courcelette. They have taken
'Wunder Werk" redoubt, I'm the Thiep-
val region. which belonged To the old
first line Notifications. The Germans
continue To make desperate resistance.
North of the Somme the French cap
tured II series of German trenches and
advanced us far ms the village Of Ran
court. On the Verdun front two Ger
man attacks were rcpulsed.
New Motorcar Aids British
Aside from their increased artillery
fire In the great new drive on the
Somme the British brought into action
for the first time n new type Of armored
motorcar. capable because Of It's pow
erful traction of crossing trenches and
shell crntcrs. For some days the army
had watched IL with interest and curl
i tNllNs Uul uN VI iii'Nfu sltHk III SUD
port of the infantry I'm their charges
they cheered II. even In the midst of
shell fire.
There has been nothing more won
derful, even In this war. than the spec.
taclc Of It's advance toward the Ger
man line.
French Take Town.
London. Sept li.-Contnuing the
spectacular offensive which marked n
gain Of two miles and nc night cap.
turcd the village of Bonchnvesnes and
advanced GOO yards beyond the Ba.
paume-peronnc highway. tho French
extended their gains both north and
south OF the Sommc.
| A total Of more thun 200 prisoners
captured In this action IL officially ~.
ported by Paris
Berlin Admits Loea.
| Tho German official statement FOL.
| lows:
"Front of Field Marshal Prince
Rupprccht of Ravnru tSommc) The
battle north OF the Somme has re-
commenced. our troops are engaged
In heavy fighting between Comblcs