FRENCH OFFER A STUBBORN RESISTANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 10867, 4 June 1918, Page 5

FRENCH OFFER A STUBBORN RESISTANCE.

FORCED TO YIELD GROUND BETWEEN THE RIVERS.

ONE OF RHEIMS FORTS LOST AND RECAPTURED.

Australian and N.Z. and Renter. . LONDON. June 2. French communiques have been issued in the following order:— The day was marked by a series of powerful German attacks on the whole front. Between the Oise and the Marne we only gave up certain points before still superior forces, upon which heavy losses were inflicted. Between the Oise and the Aisne we recaptured positions on the northern outskirts of Carlepont Wood, south-west of Xoyon, and on the. heights west of Andignicourt, 11 miles north-west of Soissons, to Fontenoy, six miles west of Soissons. All enemy attempts west and south-west of Soissons and to the north of Vierzy, seven miles south of Soissons, were futile. The battle further south is violent on both sides of the Ourcq. The enemy holds Chouy, a mile north of the Ourcq, and Neilly St. Front, a mile and a-half south of the river. We continue fighting on the line from Villers-Helon, nine miles south of Soissons, through Noroy, on the Ourcq, Priez, five miles south of the Ourcq, Monthiers, and Etrepilly, north-west of Chateau Thierry. We hold Chateau Thierry. The situation north of the M arne is unchanged.

Despite constant enemy pressure on our right, we practically maintained our positions in the region of the Dormans-Rheims Road and practically north of Ville-en-Tardenois, 11 miles south-west of Rheims. The situation north-west and north of Rheims is unchanged. A violent enemy attack south-east of Rheims, supported by tanks, momentarily seized La Pompelle fort, on the railway, but an immediate counter-attack recaptured the fort and restored the positions.

LONDON, June —4.25 p.m. German pressure continues intense on the front between the Oise and the Marne. Extremely violent enemy attempts in the region of the northern outskirts of Carlepont Wood and Moulin-sous-Touvent were checked. Our troops threw back the enemy to the north of the last-named locality. After four attacks Mont de Choist, east of Carlepont \\ ood, was taken by the Germans. We recaptured it at the bayonet s point, and remain in possession thereof.

Between Vierzy and the Ourcq the enemy took possession of Longpont, Corey, Faverolles, and Troesnes, which, however, we reoccupied by a counter-attack. The Germans reached the heights west of Chateau Thierry, but we hold the part of the town situated on the left bank. After violent fighting we occupied the neighbourhood of the road from Dormans to Rheims, which the Germans slightly crossed south of Olizy. There is no change on the Rheims front.