THE FRENCH SUCCESS AT AVOCOURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 5

THE FRENCH SUCCESS AT AVOCOURT

ALL COUNTER-ATTACKS BROKEN SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT BY THE SECOND ARMY The High Commissioner reports:— ~ , London, July 18, 3.-10 p.m. A French ofiicial report states: On tho left bank of tho Mouse,.after violent bombardments, tho Germans counter-attacked several times tlio 'positions wo captured at Avocourt Wood as far as 'the slopes to west of Hill 301 AH tho efforts wevo broken with sanguinary losses to the enemy, and without "tlio loss of a scrap of ground." By Telegraph-Press A6sociation.-Copyris.bt (Rec. July 19, 10.50 p.m.) London, July IS. , 'A'. French ofiicial communique stotes:."Wo repulsed a German attack west of the Cerny sugar 'factory."—Aue.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. CRUSHING BLOW AT PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT ' . Paris, ,Tuly IS. The French Second Army delivered a line blow in the Avocourt sector, where the' Germans during the last throe weeks made numerous attacks, and succeeded two or three times in biting into the French trenches. Tlio French refrained from making an attack, awaiting a favourable opportunity. Yesterday formidable artillery work completely cushedthet German trenches, and the infantry rushed through to the enemy s supporting positions, whero the troops were sheltering front tho artillery fire. Tho Germans, at bay, fought stubbornly. Thoso refusing to surrender were killed- The rest surrendered. _ The French gained at tlio end of the battle an advance of five-eighths of a inilo on a milo and a quarter front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable issn. ADVANCE RELEASES FAMOUS HILL ■ ' (I!ec. July 19, 8.35 p.m.) Paris, July 18. Semi-official: Yesterday's advance on tho left bank of tho Meuse is of considerable importance, as it will release Hill 30i, which the enemy has been closely pressing. It has also done niu:u to clear .the approaches to Verdun.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE BRITISH FRONT FURTHER GROUND GAINED. London, July IS. Sir Dougtas Haig reports: "Local iifighting east of Monchy-le-Preux resulted in-a further gain of ground. Wo captured prisoners. AVo conducted a successful raid near Boesinghe."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. July 19, 10.50 p.m.) / London, July 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wo successfully raided tho neighbourhood of Fresnoy. A number of air fights ocourred last evening, wherein large enemy formations were engaged. Wo brought down nine machines, and drove down six. Four of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Roiiter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. July 19, 5.30 p.m.) , . London, July 18. A German official report states: Ihere is livoly artillery activity along the coast, from, the Yser to the Lys-La Basse Canal, at Loos, Lens, and on both banks of the Scarpe. We repulsed English advances botween Hollebeke and Warneton, and drovo back an English attack on the Axras-Cambrai Road, except at a narrow point westward of Bois Deuvert. The French attacked on a five-kilometre front (three miles), , between Avocourt Wood and westward of Mort Homme. After bitter fighting they penetrated the south-eastern comfir of Malancourt Wood, astride the Jlalancourt-Esnes lload."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutor. TREMENDOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AIR DARING CONTEST SUPREMACY. London, July 18. There is tremendous air activity on all fronts. Tho machines are now reckoned in thousands where they wore in tens at the beginning of llio war. The struggle is fiercest on tho Flemish coast, where a colossal British air oli'ensivo foreshadows portentous events. Swarms of machines aro raining bombs day and night on German military works, communications, dump, and depots. While we are using all types of machines, the Germans apparently pin their faith to tho'large, .two-enginfcd Gotha battleplanes, of which now squadrons are constantly appearing on the West front f.nd in Flanders. Numerous inacliines l.avo also been withdrawn from the Russian front. Tho Germans undoubtedly aro makintg their boldest bid for air supremacy, but tho British communiques '■ reveal that they arc unablo to hold their own against tho British pilots.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' THREE AIR ATTACKS ON BELGIAN COAST. Amsterdam, July 18. It is. reported that aviators 'three times attacked tho Belgian coast'between midnight and ohe o'clock yesterday—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.