DETERMINED FRENCH RESISTANCE 10 ATTACKS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 77, 1 April 1918, Page 5

DETERMINED FRENCH RESISTANCE 10 ATTACKS

ENEMY ATTACKS ON . RECAPTURED VILLAGES FAIL LONDON, March 31. A French communique reports:—The battle was resumed last night with renewed violence. It now rages on a front of 25 miles from Moreuil, northwest of, to beyond Lassigny, south-east of Montdidier. Our troops, supported by reserves, which continue to arrive, are offering a determined resistance! to powerful assaults. The battle on the Oise front appreciably slackened during the day, the German activity being confined.to local attacks at some points on our front, which is daily being consolidated by the ceaseless arrival of reinforcements. All these attacks were repulsed. Raids on our positions in the region of Badonviller, on the Lorraine border and the adjacent Parroy Forest, and south of Seppois, in Lower Alsace, completely failed. Earlier messages stated:—The battle continued with violence last evening and through part of the night in the region of Montdidier. Despite repeated counter-attacks the enemy were unable to drive us out of the villages we captured yesterday. Our troops, continuing their successes, carried Le Montchel, a mile south of Montdidier, by storm. A violent engagement occurred for the possession of Plessier, five miles to the north-east, all the enemy attacks against which failed before our indomitable resistance. Prisoners state that the number of bodies found in this part of the battlefield, and also in the region of Montdidier, confirm the reports that the enemy losses were extremely heavy, while they achieved no result. North of Montdidier the French and British troops are victoriously holding the enemy on a line from the River Avre in front of La Neuville, Sire Bernard, on the River Avre, seven miles north of Montdidier, Mezieres, Marcelcave, and Le Hamel. Our long-range guns caught and dispersed enemy infantry columns and convoys on the Laon-Le Fere road. There is moderate artillery fighting on the. remainder of the front. The Crown Prince's rush in the Oise Valley affords a thrilling narrative of the successful British and French effort to recover from a most serious position. The| advances from both Noyon and Montdidier have now been arrested, the latter by a brilliant bayonet charge by the chasseurs a pied, resulting in an advance of 1J miles and the recapture of the villages! of Courtemanche, Assainvillers, and Mesnii St. Georges. British infantry and cavalry in the Oise Valley fought shoulder to shoulder with the French infantry, enabling General Petain to rush in reserves of infantry and artillery. Paris messages axe insistent that the French troops are completely barring the road along the Oise Valley to Paris. The Germans twice occupied Mont Renaud, an important strategic point south of Noyon, but the French for a third time gained and held it. There is bitter fighting at Montdidier. The French have recaptured the village of Le Montchel, south of Montdidier, and have held their gains. French guns cover all the bridges between Noyon and Chauny. The French realise that the Germans are seeking to drive a wedge between the .French and British armies.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) The "Daily Mail" says that the capture of Montdidier affects the defence of Amiens. French reserves are continually arriving. The situation will remain serious until Montdidier is recovered, and the Germans beaten back from their present positions east of Amiens,, — (United Service.)