SPLENDID ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 28, 27 October 1917, Page 9

SPLENDID ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH

2000 PRISONERS YESTERDAY: 11,000 TO DATE VILLAGES AND MANY GUNS CAPTURED By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, October 25. A French official communique states: "North of the Aisne the German artillery is particularly active in the sectors of La Eovero and Les Bovelles, in- the region of the Fort Malmaißon. On our new front, which runs from . Mount Singres (just west of Vauxaillon), the whole of which is in our possession, to Chavignon, the enerav did not attempt any infantry action. The number of prisoners exceeds eight thousand. The bootycounted includes seventy■teuns, thirty mine-throwers, and eighty machine-guns. «The situation north of the Aisne, in. the sector of Braye en Laonnois and Chavignon, is unchanged. During the liignt we again advanced on the Chavignon-Mount Singes front, and reached Nozay Farm We have taken over 500 prisoners here since last evening. J?he enemy made a surprise attack on the Sapigneul bridgehead, preceded by a, violent bombardment, but it failed. Twenty-five enemy aeroplanes have been brought down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. LATEST NEWS OF THE ADVANCE GENERAL MOVE FORWARD BEYOND THE NEW POSITIONS. "'■'••' '•:•-'-'■- -". '. ..- (Eec. October. 26,-11.15 p.m:) r--'- , • ■• London, October 26. ■' -K report issued by French Headquarters states:: "Following on Tuesday's "victory,. our troops continued to advance towards.the Oise and Aisne Canal from the w»st and the south, and now hold all the heights on the south bank of the canal above the eastern end of the Ailette Valley. We are firmly established o<i the receding slopes from Vauxaillon to Chavignov , A French official communique states: 'A general advance was made this morning beyond the positions we reached last evening, bordering on the Oise and Aisne Canal. The village and forest of Pinon, and also the villages of Pargny and Filain, are in our hands. South of Filain, which our patrols penetrated, we-occupv the farms of St. Mannens, Ohapelle, and St. Bermthe. Tho enemy under our pressure was compelled to abandon much material, including twenty guns several of which were 6-inch mortars. Altogether one hundred and twenty guns' have beon captured since October 23, and we have courted, in addition, several hundred mine-throwers and machine-guns. We took over two thousand prisoners during tho dav. Over eleven thousand prisoners, including two hundred officers, have been taken since the beginning of these operations. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. PATROLS IN TOUCH WITH RETREATING ENEMY (Eec. October 26, 9.30 p.m.) London, October Eeuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of October 25, says: "On the right our victory was completed by the capture of the villages "of Pargny and Filain. Thereabouts and in the Forest of Pinon the enemy was forced to abandon a large number of guns. We made progress on the left bevond the limits assigned for the operations of October 23. Our patrols were in touch along the Oise and Aisne Canal at 9 o'clock this morning. r lhe tanks are co-operating."—Beuter. '.. .GERMAN MINOR COMMANDS IN DISORDER. (Eec. October 27, 0.5 a.m.)' London, October 2G. The "Daily Chroniole's" correspondent at French Headquarters says: "After the terrible blows inflicted on them on Tuesday, the minor German commands seem to be in disorder. Papers which have been taken reveal the fact that one battalion, of which six hundred were captured at Pinon, received contradictory orders to retire from and also hold Pinon at any cost! For 6ome days the French aviators have been reporting that the Germans are cutting down the fruit trees and demolishing the farms in tho Ailcttc Valley, recalling the Soumie retreat. The.French are making steady and unrelenting progress. The Oise and Aisne Canal is not an obstacle, but there is a good deal of marshy ground in tho Ailette Valley. The question also arises whether the enemy will attempt to hold the remainder .of the Chemin des Dames. After their two days' triumphs, cur troops are in splendid spirits."—Aus.-N .7,. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (.Eec. October 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 25. •A German official report states: "Our advanced troops in the Penon-Chavi?-nori-Ailottc region have withdrawn behind the Oise-Aisne line, owing to . the Fronch pressure."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.-Eeuter. CAPTURE OF SO-CALLED " INVINCIBLES " Paris, October 25. Two regiments of Guards were captured in the Aisne Battle, including the 55ths, regarded as one of the elite corps.. The men of this regiment possessed certificates attesting that they had repelled twenty-one attacks, and therefore merited the title of "The Invincibles."—Aus.-N. 'fy Cable Assn. FIGHTING ON THE MEUSE London, October 25. A French official communique states: "On the right bank of the Meuse there has been brisk artillery actions, in the region of Samogneux, Vacherauville, Chaume, and west of Douaumont."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (Res. October 26,. 11.15 p.m.) . London,' October 25. A French official report states: "The Germans on the right bank of tho Meuse followed up a morning bombardment of the Bois le Chaume with an attack which our fire stopped."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asßn.-Eeuter. ON, THE BRITISH FRONT STRONG GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED. London, October 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wn completely repulsed another strong counterattack last ovening, south of Houthulst Wood. The Gloucester, Worccstcrs, and Berkshire* successfully raided positions between Eoeux and Gavrelle."— Ans.-N.Z.jCablo Assn.-Eeuter, (Eec. October 2G, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy attempted a raid last night eastward of Loos, but met with rifle and machine-gun fire and failed to reach our wire. Two raiding parties attacked our line northward of the La Bassee Canal. One was repulsed before- reaching the trenches, while the other entered our trouches but was driven out. We took a few prisoners. During the night there -were patrol encounters' eastward of Poelcapelle. Our artillory is active. The weather on the British front on Wednesday slightly improved. Our aeroplanes bombed the enemy's aerodrome at Conrtrai. Eight of the enemy's machines were brought down.. Sii of oars are missing,. l '—AD3..-5.Z... Cable Assa..-Eaitei!.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, October 25. A' German offici.il report states: "Tho enemy is using most violent drumfire between the Ho.uthulst Wood and Passchendaele."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.Reuter. ANOTHER DAMAGING RAID INTO GERMANY WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION AT SAARBRUCKEN. (Eec. October 2G, 11.15 p.m.) f London, October 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: ''Our aeroplane squadrons last night attacked the factories and railway communications in the vicinity of Saarbrucken, with sxcellent results. Naval machines dropped over 3{ tons of explosives on the Burbach. works, westward of Saarbrucken, causing considerable damage and many fires. Another squadron bombed the railway stations, junctions, and goods sidings round about Saarbrucken, securing many direct hits. There were numerous explosions. A big bomb destroyed a train that was proceeding to Saarbrucken. Altogether 5 tons of bombs were dropped."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter, GREAT BATTLE ON THE ITALIAN FRONT FIGHT FOR THE BAINSIZZA PLATEAU TERRIFIC ATTACK BY THE ENEMY Washington, October 25. The cable messages report that a, great battle is raging on the Bainsizza Plateau. Twenty new divisions of Austrlnns have taken the offensive. General C'adorna has been reinforced by British and French troops.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ITALIAN OFFICIAL' REPORT. London, October 25. An Italian official report states: "The enemy launched a strong attack, after a most violent bombardment, especially between Mount Eombon and the northern edge of the Bainsizza Plateau. We resisted, but more to tho southward the enemy penetrated our advanced lines on the left bank of the Isonzo, and 1 crossed the river at Saint Maria and Saint Lucia (south of Tolmino). We checked powerful attacks west of Volnik, and al so on the western slopes of Monto San Gabrielle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ENEMY CLAIMS 10,000 PRISONERS. London, October 25. A German communique slates: "The Austro-Germans attacked on a- front of 20 miles on the Isonzo, and penetrated tho Italian defence in the Flitch basin and at Tolmino, overrunning strong positions in the first thrust. The Italians resisted desperately, and the fiphting still proceeds. We had captured by tho evening 10,000 prisoners, including divisional and brigade staffs, and rich booty."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. October 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 25. A German official report states: "We have gained further successes near Flitch and Tolmino. The number of prisoners taken by ns is increasing."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter,-STATEMENT IN THE ITALIAN CHAMBER AN ENTHUSIASTIC SCENE. 4^ (Eec. October 26, 8.10 p.m.) Rome, October 25. There was an enthusiastic scene in the Italian Chamber of Deputies when the Minister of War (Signor Giardino) called attention to tjje fact that the Germans had joined the Austrians in a heavy onslaught. He said: "Tho Italian armies aro fully prepared. Our losses iu the August offensive were remarkably small. It is difficult to know whether the Anstro-German attack is for a. political or military object. Whatever may happen in Russia and elsewhore, the enemy will never tread our sacred and inviolable soil."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEARLY THE WHOLE. AUSTRIAN ARMY ENGAGED (Eec, October 26, 8.10 p.m.) London, Octobcr 25 Correspondents on the Italian front 6tate that Austria is attacking with almost her whole Army, and with important German units. The enemy's artillery has been reinforced by several hundred guns. Nevertheless tho Italian re* sistance is formidable, and the means at the Italians' disposal are greater, than those of their enemies. Moreover, the enthusiasm of the Italian troops is im-mense—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ENEMY'S ONE* CHANCE OF A COUP (Eec. October 27, 2 a.m.) London, October 26. The "Daily News" correspondent, who was recently on the Italian front, says:—"The main blows of the Austro-Gennan attack fell in the neighbourhood of Plezzo and Tolmino, whero the .Italian advance was the least marked of any since the Isonzo campaign commenced. This is the shortest cut. for a raid into Italian territory fpr the purpose of impressing German public opinion. Unfortunately, a point south of Tolmino is strategically important, because if the enemy push down the right bank of the river on heights at. the water's edge, the recent Italian gains on the Bain6izza Plateau must be jeopardised. A strip if country skirting the river lends itself to defence, and Cadorna will not be surprised. So there arc good reasons for hoping that he will soon bring tli6 attackers to a standstill." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.