STERN STRUGGLE PROCEEDING NORTH OF SOISSONS.

ALLIES HOLD WESTERN SLOPE OF SPUR,

FORCED TO FALL BACK SLIGHTLY IN THE EAST.

(Received January 14, 9 p.m.)

Paris, January- 13.

An official communique states: Our counter-attack has slightly progressed between Cuffies and Crouy, north of Soissons, but we were unable to debouch from Crouy. Our troops fell back slightly near the village of Moncel.

An earlier communique stated that bad weather had impeded operations along the whole front. The allies maintained their positions on the west of the spur which was recently captured north-east of Soissons,. but gave ground in the east.

,Our artillery caused explosions in the enemy's batteries in the Champagne.

Violent artillery duels had been. fought from Rheims to the

Argonne.

We still held the salient of the Beau Sejour redoubt

ALLIES HOLT) REDOUBT AT BEAU SEJOUR.

TRENCH ESTABLISHED SIXTY YARDS FROM ENEMY.

Wellington*, January 14

The Prime Minister has received the following cable from the High Commissioner's office, dated London, January 14: —Paris reports state that north-east of Soissons the allies' counter-attack progressed slightly between Cuffies and Crouy, but the allies were unable to debouch from Crouy. Being violently attacked in the east of this locality, the allies fell back slightly near the village of Moncel, which they occupy.

The following cable from the High Commissioner"? office was received earlier:—Paris reports state that persistent bad weather has interfered with operations along the entire front.

The struggle is still proceeding on a spur north-west of Soissons, the allies maintaining the top and west of the slope, but giving ground in the east.

Between Soissons and Berry-au-Bac artillery caused explosions at various points in the German, batteries.

Tho salient of the redoubt north of Beau Sejour, in the Souain region remains in French hands, and a trench has been established 60yds from the Germans.

GERMANS CLAIM COMPLETE VICTORY AT CROUY

FRENCH REPORTED TO HAVE EVACUATED THE HEIGHTS.

Amsterdam, January 13.

A German communique says that after a heavy artillery battle the Germans captured trenches at Palingabrug, a suburb of Nieuport, finally repulsed attacks on the canal at La Bassee. and also at La. Boiselle and Nouvron.

A German counter-attack at Crouy completely defeated the French, who evacuated the heights north of Crouy and north-east of Cuffies, which lie to the north of Soissons. The report also asserts that the Germans repulsed French sappers' attacks near Saint Mihiel, and occupied the heights north and north-east of Nomeny.