FRENCH LIBERATE FORTY VILLAGES IN A DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 207, 30 August 1918, Page 5

FRENCH LIBERATE FORTY VILLAGES IN A DAY.

ADVANCE OF SIX MILES ON FORTY-MILE FRONT. LONDON, August 20. A Fl-ench communique Mates:—We rontimied In pursue tlio enemy, who, under our. pressure, precipitately retreated on a front of 18 miles. We reached the heights on the left bank of the. from Ciizaneourt as far as the oast of Ne.slc. Further south we reached the western bank of tho Canal l>u Kord along the greater part of it* course between Nesle and Noyon. North of tlie Oise we captured Pont I'Kvique, a mile south of Noyon, Vanchollee, a mile north-easl of Noyon, ami Ponjuericourt, a mile further north. Our advance to-day exceeds six miles at some points, and forty villages hi;ve been recaptured. Vast quantities of material abandoned by the. Germans include three heavily-laden trains. Five hundred prisoners ■were captured in lively lighting between the Oise and the Aisne, in the region of Juvigny. The Alriericiina repulsed several counter-attacks, and thpv also frustrated a hig Ucmmn attempt to cross tlie Vcsle soutli of Bazochea and Fismette.—(A. and N.Z. and Renter.) Renter's headquarters correspondent, writing on Wednesday evening, says that tlie. Hermans were strongly holding Xoyon, particularly with machineguns concealed in houses. General Humbert's army crossed the Roye-Noyon road near Sermaile and Catigny. The German* energetic-ally defended tlie bill-s east of Catignv. General Debeney reached the neighbourhoods of C'uchy and Ramecourt, and reached the Honinie battlcbeld between Kouy le Petit and CUancourt.—(Reuter.l French critics predict an intensification of (lie attack towards Xesle and the narlv establishment of the line from Peronnc to Ham to Guiscard to Koyoti.-- ("Times.") ENEMY CONSTANTLY ATTACKED FROM AIR. LONDON. August 20. Pir Douglas llais's aviation report states: —Despite clouds and rainstorms «mr low-living machines constantly bombed and attacked with machine-guns enemy troops and transports. There was much air lighting. We destroyed ten aeroplanes and drove down live not under control. Seven British machines arc missing. We dropped 23 tons of bombs in the daytime. Night-flying is impossible.—(A. and N.Z. and Reutcr.J