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Show SM BLOW STRUCK 8 ALLIES 01 rench and British Carry Car-ry Trenches on Both Sides of the Village of Maurepas to the Depth of From 350 to 600 Yards After Heavy Artillery Attack. OTHER POSITIONS ALSO CAPTURED Maurepas, One of the Foundation Stones in the German Defense in the Picardy Region, Surrounded on Three Sides and Its Fall Certain. 1 (SprliJ CiV.e fcr Arrmiract with Lioon DsJly Teiegrapb and Ia.emUol Newt Srvioe.) LONDON", Aug. 16. A new blow, for which the French and British artillery has been preparing the way for more than two days, was struck this afternoon after-noon against the German front, both north end south of the Somme. As a result, Teuton trenches were carried on a two-miJo front on both sides of the village of Maurepas to a depth of from 350 to COO yards, while south of the river the German line three-quarters of a mile in length was seized by the French. These successes, which marl; the opening open-ing of the fourth phase of the bloody struggle in Picardy, have enabled the allies to penetrate at points on the Guillemont-Maurepas road, besides giving giv-ing them complete control of the highway high-way from Maurepas to Clery. Village Surrounded. The village of Maurepas itself is practically in their hands. Surrounded on three sides and with French troops engaging the Germans in the outskirts, its complete capture is expected at any moment. The hamlet is one of the foundation foun-dation stones of the German defense in this region, each house having been separately sep-arately fortified and each barn a small arsenal. Today's attacks, coming on the heels of declarations from Germany that the allied offensive in Picardy was definitely definite-ly halted and that the German lines could never be broken, are taken here to indicate that the French and British are determined at all costs to keep up their desperate offensive. Heavy German Losses. Heavy losses were inflicted today on the Germans, the official statement issued is-sued at midnight in Paris says, while a large number of prisoners, the total of which has not yet been reported, were captured. General Haig has no word to sav tonight to-night of the part that the British pfayed in the new drive. That British troops took part in the attacks is announced bv the French war office, but the office merely says, There is nothing important impor-tant to report. ' ' Won by Dash. The French success south of the Somme was won in one irresistible dash, which carried the victorious troopers clear across the German advanced lines. Thev are now consolidating the positions posi-tions won, despite counter-attacks, which are reported already to be in progress. Today's German report announces tho repulse' of British attacks in the late hours of yesterday from various points on the Po.ieres salient. On the Verdun front there was severe artillery fighting at point?, but no important im-portant infantry actions. French Statement. The text of the Paris statement fob . lows: On the Somme front this afternoon, after-noon, after an intense artillery preparation, prep-aration, we launched an offensive vhitdi brought us important gains. Nn-.-ih of Maurepas. assisted by the B- itisb. we captured one entire line of German trenches on a front of lb'1' meters, reaching at certain points the GuiUcmont-Mauret'as road. South of Maurepas. on a front of two Udometers and to h. depth of to r.CO meters, our infantry occupied al! enemy positions east of the Mau-repas-.'ierv road, after a slia'p attack at-tack which cost the enemy heaviiv. These two operations, brilliantly and rani-lly conducted, resulted in the capture of a considerable number of (Continued on Pae Two,) ALLIES ON SOMME (Continued from Page One.) prisoners, whose numbers arc not yet obtainable. At the same time south of the Somme our troops, :it lacking- with a rush, captured a powerfully organized svstcin of Cerrmin trenches on a length of 12"n meters south of Bel-lov-Kn-Santerre, capturing sixty prisoners. There was an intermittent cannonade on the remainder of the front. The ntcht was calm on Ihc srcaLer part of the front. In the Champacne, in the repJon of Tahure and in the Arponne toward . Jfarazee, we dispersed some German patrols. On the Verdun front there was a fairly livelv bombardment in the Thiaumont. Fleury and Vaux-Cha-pitre sectors. Aviation: Last night enemy aeroplanes aero-planes dropped some bombs on Bel-forte. Bel-forte. There were no victims. |