FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 22, 25 July 1918, Page 7

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS

FURIOUS FIGHTING ON EAST FLANK

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND BEHTER.)

LONDON, 23rd July. A French communique states: The artillei-y only was active during the night on the entire battlefroht. North of Montdidier we boldly conducted a local operation which enabled us to occupy the' villages of Mailly-Raineval, Sauvillers and Aubvillers. (Received Juiy 25, 9 a.m.) . . . LONDON, 24th July. , A French communique states: Our attacks on both banks of the Ourcq had satisfactory results, notwithstanding the stubborn resistance of the enemy, who brought up fresh reserves. North of the river we captured and passed Plessierhuleu and reached the western outskirts of Oulchy-La-Ville, and captured the village of Montgau. The French and Americans south of the Ourcq crossed the Chateau Thierry road and advanced thb line over a kilometre eastward of the village of Rocourt. The greater part of Chatelet Wood is in our hands. On the right of the Marne (east'of Chateau Thierry) we made further progress north of''Mont St. Pere and Charteves, which is ours, and extended our bridgehead at Jaulg'ohne. . . Between the Marne and Reims the fighting is furious. The French-British between the Ardre. and Vrigny, attacking strong positions, advanced over 1000 yards, and inflicted heavy losses. The British captured pjnsohers and guns. The local operation north of Mohtdidier in the morning, iff which we captured Mailiy-Rairieval, Sauviliei-s, and. Aujbvillers, gave us ftOO prisoners. The aviators were active oh the 22nd. French and British pilots brought down or' disabled thirty-seven enemy machines. There were numerous fights in the "air. In the bombing operations 33j tons were dropped in the daytime on enemy aerodromes and stations. A ton and a quarter of explosives were dropped in a night raid on the station of Maison-Bleue, causing a conflagration and explpsioris. , Aii American communique states: South of Ourcq we continued to press the retreating enetmv. We took possession of Jaulgorine and woods to th« .west

(Received July 26, &.30. a.m.)

. WASHINGTON, 24th July. . French and American troops have captured the greater portion of Chatelet Wood. .