Thiepval, La Boisselle and the Barleux-Belloy Line, July 5, 1916

The English-French Offensive Continues

Latest Official War Report - WTB. Central Headquarters July 4, Official

Western Theater of War

While the enemy did not repeat their attacks to the north of Ancebaches [sic: Ancre-Baches] they positioned substantial forces between Ance [sic: Ancre] and the Somme against the Front at Thiepval, La Boisselle, Mametz Grove, and south of the Somme against the Barleux-Belloy line. Their losses in our artillery and infantry fire corresponded with the high number of men deployed. The attacks were crushed everywhere. A fierce battle raged for the possession of the village of Hardecourt, to the north of the Somme. French soldiers who infiltrated the village were driven out.

Local enemy advances to the north-east of Ypres, west of La Bassee and in the area south-west of Lens, as well as heavy attacks against the "High Battery of Damloup" to the east of the Maas were sharply rebuffed.

The repeated official French reports of the recapture of Fort Thiaumont and the Battery of Damloup are myths in the same vein as the statements regarding the number of prisoners at the events of the Somme.

Our troops in the trenches

To the east and south-east of Armentieres, German patrols infiltrated the English reconnaissance divisions at Erbruecke to the west of Mülhausen in the French trenches. Here, 1 officer and 60 riflemen were taken prisoner, 9 enemy planes were shot down, 5 of them in aerial combat without any losses to us, 4 by defensive fire; 6 of the planes put out of action are in our possession.