German peace proposal ‘empty’ and ‘insincere’

The Allies continued to emphatically refuse to consider Germany’s peace proposal citing it as empty and insincere.

Hard fighting was reported from the Roumanian front.

The Germans were still claiming successes but the main body of the Russo-Roumanian forces had reached safety after a skilfully conducted retreat.

Reports also showed that“at several points in the Dobrudja the enemy was repulsed. Near the Danube the Russians captured three villages, taking over 200 prisoners. There have been further stubbornly contested engagements on the Roumanian front, and the Russians have broken through the enemy positions.”

There were further losses at sea after the transport ship Ivernia was torpedoed by a submarine in the Mediterranean. A total of150 men were missing. And the French battleship Gaulois was also sunk, going down within half an hour but thanks to the“discipline and coolness of the crew and the rapid arrival of patrol boats”only four of the 632 officers and men were lost.

“The enemy’s power has not yet been broken,” said general Haig in his dispatch.

“Nor is it yet possible to form an estimate of the time the war may last before the objects for which the allies are fighting have been attained.

“But the Somme battle has placed beyond doubt the ability of the Allies to gain these objects.”