The New York Times/1916/11/22/Fighting on Somme Limited to Big Guns
FIGHTING ON SOMME LIMITED TO BIG GUNS
Both Allied Capitals and Berlin Report Heavy Shelling—Activity by Aircraft.
LONDON, Nov. 21—Today was another quiet day on the Somme front, with only slight artillery activity and patrol work to relieve the monotony.
The air squadrons of both sides have been busy along the entitre front.
The London War Office issued the following statement this afternoon:
During the night our line was heavily shelled southwest of Grandcourt. To the right of our new front a hostile patrol fell into our hands.
Enemy trenches were successfully raided at Gommecourt and in the neighborhood of Roclincourt and Ypres.
The British night report says:
During the day there was considerable hostile shelling against our front on both sides of the Ancre. Elsewhere there is nothing to report.
Yesterday our airplanes co-operated successfully with our artillery. Two of our machines are missing.
The official communication given out by the War Office this afternoon follows:
Artillery activity was maintained last night to a notable degree in the region of Saillisel and Douaumont. The night passed in relative calm everywhere else on the front.
The French night communication adds:
The day was calm on the whole front. The usual cannonade occurred, but no infantry action.
Aviation—In the night of Nov. 20–21 our bombing aeroplanes dropped about 100 shells on the enemy bivouacs in the rear of the Somme front.
The Belgian communication says:
In the course of the past week our air squadrons were very active. The aviation field at Ghistelles and enemy cantonments were efficaciously bombarded at night. Our pursuit aeroplanes fought twenty-five engagements, in the course of which several enemy machines were seen to fall vertically. One of our pilots, attacked by four Fokkers, took to flight, and, though his machine was seriously damaged, succeeded in returning safely to our lines.
Berlin Reports Little Activity
BERLIN, Nov. 21, (by Wireless to Sayville.).—The German positions on both sides of the Ancre and in the St. Pierre Vaast Wood were shelled heavily by the Allies yesterday, the War Office announces. There was a revival of artillery activity in the Champagne. The text of the statement follows:
Army group of Crown Prince Ruprecht: Our artillery was in action against hostile batteries and points of support. The effects of the bombardment were visible.
A lively hostile fire was directed against our positions on both sides of the Ancre and on St. Pierre Vaast Wood. There were no infantry engagements.
Army group of the German Crown Prince: In the Champagne and in the Meuse sector (Verdun) artillery activity was revived for a few hours yesterday.
A statement issued this evening reported a thick fog in the Somme district, with a lessening of activities along this front.