SERRE

vil., Somme, France (50° 5’ N., 2° 42’ E.); was one of the most amazing fortre es constructed by Ger mans during the World War; perched on @ crest which was covered with redoubts, tunnelled and burrowed into underground halls, it was strongly enclosed in barbed wire, and was considered impregnable by Germans; was captured by British and recaptured by Germans in first stage of battle of the Somme, July 1916. When Beaumont Hamel was captured, Nov. 1916, the Brit. attack on Serre was repulsed with great lo ; was captured by British during Ger. retreat to Hindenburg Line, Feb. 1917; occupied by the Germans during great spring advance of 1918, and recaptured by Canadians in August. See Somme, Batr.es oF THE (I).