ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK ON FRENCH ADVANCE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 173, 22 July 1918, Page 5

ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK ON FRENCH ADVANCE

WHOLE OF THE CAPTURED AREA HELD. TWENTY THOUSAND PRISONERS AND 400 GUNS TAKEN. LOXPOK, JTuly 21. A French communique states:- Wo liavc reached the. Marno, taking '2(1,000 prisoners and 400 cannon. (IJigh ('nnimiwioner's C'nWc.) A French communique states:-The buttle continued most violently all day between the Atnc and the Marno. The enemy counter-attacked with large reserve?. attempting to arrest our advance, which, however, continued over most of the front. On the left we. maintained the plateau south-west of Soi'sons and in the region of Chaudun, five miles south of Soissons. In the centre we passed beyond, by nearly two miles at. certain points, the lino through Vαux. on the Marno. two miles west of Chateau Thierry, Yillers Helon, 3 miles east of the Yillers Cottercts Forest, and Xoroy-sur-Ourcq, on the Oureq. On the right, we continurd severe fighting on the plateau northwest of Monncs Hill. 1 miles south of the Oureq, and north of Courehamps, :> miles to the couth-oast. We advanced beyond Torey, o miles north-weot of Chateau Thierry. Over 17,<>00 prisoners so far have lven counted, including two colonels and their staffs, while 300 guna have been captured, including a battery of Sin guns. A latei; Krcnch communique states:—Yesterday and during the night French and American troops continued to advance along the. major portion of the front between the Aisno and the Marne. We reached Yierzy. 4 miles south of Chaudun. and passed Molloy Wood, to the east of Yillors Flelon. and captured Neuilly St. Front and Licy-Clignon, ."> miles south of the Oureq. £outh of the Marne we drove back the enemy between Fossoy and Ocuilly, and gained ground in the direction of the Marnc. A German oflicial wireless message states: —The enemy obtained a footing in Meteren. The enemy rcattempted to make a breach in the whole front from the Aisne to the Marne. Tanks early penetrated our foremost lines, but fcho first enemy thrust was defeated by noon on the heights south-wes' of Soissons, wvet of Hartennes. S miles aouth-weat of Soissons, and St. Neuilly, and north-west of Chateau Thierry. Further attacks in the evening broke down. We threw back the enemy north of Hartennes beyond their original lines. We withdrew unnoticed to the north bank of the Marne during the night. Another Gorman communique states:—Between the Aisne and tile Marne the French, by a. surprise attack, penetrated our front lines, at isolated points, and pressed us back. We. defeated French attacks from south and west of to Neuilly. Strong enemy partial attacks against our new lines on the whole front broke down. Enemy attacks south-west of Mareuil and Ked Wood, astride the Pourey, failed. We have taken 20.000 prisoners since Monday. A later German communique states:—A fresh French attempt to lireak through between the Aisne and the Marnc failed.— (A. and X.Z. and Rcutcr.)