FRENCH VICTORY IN THE CHAMPAGNE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 October 1918, Page 5

FRENCH VICTORY IN THE CHAMPAGNE.

TWENTY THOUSAND PRISONERS IN THREE WEEKS. (Received 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. A French communique states:—The battle begun in the Champagne on September 20 has ended, after seventeen days' fighting, in the complete defeat of the enemy. The Fourth Army completed the liberation of the Aisne by-re-occupying to-day thirty-six localities, and freeing several thousand civilians subjected to the German yoke since 1914. This army alone, since the beginning of the Champagne offensive, iias taken 21,507 prisoners, including 499 officers, six hundred guns, and much material. The Fifth Army, on its left, relentlessly pursuing the enemy, crossed the Retourre, and advanced ten kilometres. We hold Vieu Lcs Asfelt, La Ville, and the southern outskirts of the BUwizy. We crossed the Aisne after fighting at Guignicourt and Neuf Chateau, advancing towards Mont Fronvaix. Between the Aisne and the Oisc our vigorous pressure forced the enemy to a fresh retreat. Pressing his rearguards we reached the Ailctte. north of Craonne. Further west our line is marked by Chivy les Ktouvelles. two and a-half miles from Laon, Bourgignos, Fauconcourt. and points east of Prcmont, east of St. Gobain, west of Bcrthancourt anc Deuillet.—(A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)