he extreme left advanced from Mericourt
to Buscourt, the left from Herbecourt to Flaucourt, which was taken,
while the center occupied Assevillers.

On the 4th the right, abandoning in its turn the role of fixed point,
moved forward and took the two villages of Estrees and Belloy. Thus in
the first four days of July, 1916, the French forces operating south
of the Somme constantly marched with the left in advance.

After a pause for rest and to consolidate positions won, the attack
was again resumed by the left wing on the 9th, and carried before
Peronne, Biaches, and La Maisonette.

It will be seen by this outline of operations that the maneuver, which
began early in an easterly direction, developed into a movement toward
the south. The object as stated in the official communique was to
clear the interior of the angle of the Somme and to cover the right of
the French troops operating north of the river. This delicate maneuver
involved great difficulty and risk, inasmuch as the French right
flank became the target for an enfilading fire from the south. By
consulting the map it will be seen that the artillery positions south
of Villers direct an enfilading fire on the plateau of Flaucourt and
points near by. The French General Staff showed keen foresight in
parrying this danger by advancing the right at the proper moment.

By these operations the French had reached the actual suburbs of the
old fortified city of Peronne, occupying a strong strategic position
above the angle made by the Somme between Bray and Ham.

It is a natural and necessary road of passage for all armies coming
from the north or south that want to cross the river. Bluecher in his
pursuit of the French armies after the Battle of Waterloo crossed the
Somme exactly at this point.

As a matter of fact at this time both adversaries were astride of the
river, the Allies facing the east and the Germans facing toward the
west. It is interesting to note that this is exactly the situation
that prevailed in the war of 1870, but with the roles reversed. At
that time the Germans were attacking Peronne as the French forces were
attacking it in July, 1916; they came, however, from the direction of
Amiens, precisely as the French came on this occasion.

The French, on the other hand, were in the positions of the
Germans--they came from the north. The army of Faidherbe had its bases
at Lille and Cambrai as the Crown Prince of Bavaria had his in the
present war.