After the stupendous bombardment of the past week the British and French launched on Saturday morning a great attack on both sides of the River Somme. The battle front extended over 20 miles north of the river and about four miles south of it, the French part being about a quarter of the whole length and on each side of the stream.
Most success was gained by the British and French along the southern half of the line, where advances of 1,000 to 2,000 yards were made and a number of villages captured. Up to the official reports of last night the number of prisoners recorded was over 3,500 taken by the British and over 6,000 by the French.
Progress was continued yesterday. The British took Fricourt and ground to the east of the village, and despite stubborn resistance by the enemy at points further north our Headquarters last night described the general situation as favourable and the German losses greater than had at first been estimated. The French south of the Somme penetrated the German second line at some points. They have taken some gains.
The German Headquarters observed as far back as Tuesday that the Allies╒ artillery fire had been ╥directed with particular intensity against our positions on both sides of the Somme.╙
╥A SLOW PUSH SPARING IN LIVES.╙
THE ALLIES╒ PURPOSE.
The semi-official review of the operations issued in Paris on Saturday night concludes its commentary on the Allied offensive as follows:-
The first day of the offensive is therefore very satisfactory. The success is not a thunderbolt, as has happened earlier in similar operations, but it is important above all because it is rich in promises.
It is no longer a question here of attempts to pierce as with a knife. It is rather a slow, continuous, and methodical push, sparing in lives, until the day when the enemy╒s resistance, incessantly hammered at, will crumple up at some point. From to-day the first results of the new tactics permit one to await developments with confidence.
