ROYE CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 28 August 1918, Page 5

ROVE CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH.

1100 PRISONERS TAKEN IN PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS,

(Received 10.20 a.m.)

LONDON", August 27. The French have captured Roye, an important centre on the Avre, eight miles north, of Laseigny, »nd three mites behind the old Somme line. They advanced on the totrn from the south-west, after consolidating their positions at St. Mard-les-Triots, and in those preliminary operations took 1100 prieoners. The final advance was made on a front of eight miles and reached a depth of two milee. In addition to Roye the village of Crapeaiimesnil. on the Roye-Laseigny road, four miles south of Roye, was captured.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) Beuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing before tffe capture of Roye was announced, says: General Debeney attacked at 5.45 this morninji ai. Fresnoy les Roye. the capture of which is announced in «■ French communique. The attack on the village which covers Koye from the north was preceded by heavy artillery firing. The village watt strongly defended, and thn Germane desperately resisted. Furious street fighting with buyone.te and grenades ensued. The French repulsed several violent counter-attacks. The capture of St. Mard was apparently the result of a brilliant little operation.— (Reuter.) A Prench communique issued this evening state*: —South of the River Avre this morning we made progress in the region of St. Mard-les-Triote, near Roye, after repelling several counter-attacks. During yesterday we took 1100 prisoners, including 36 officers, between the Oise and the Aisne. A German counter-attack west of Chavigny failed. We advanced our line 1200 metres east of Bagneaux, between the Ajene and the Ailette. These wae lively artillerying in the night-time between the Ailette and the Aiene. — (A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)