FRENCH OFFENSIVE

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3234, 7 May 1917, Page 2

FRENCH OFFENSIVE

AGAIN VERY AGGRESSIVE

THE CAPTURE OF CRAONNE

WITH 5000 PRISONERS /\ND

MUCH SLAUGHTER

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) [per press association.] Paris, May 5. A French communique says: We captured the village of Craonne and several strong points east and north. After a, lively artillery preparation in the region north-west of Rheinib, we launched an attack, carrying the first German lines on a front of four kilometres and taking six hundred prisoners. Tli© artillery duel was furious in the Champagne throughout the day south and south-west of Moronvillers. We were brilliantly successful northeast of Soissons and Cliemin Jes Dames, despite the desperate resistance of the Germans, who recklessly employed great contingents. We attacked a salient on the Hindenburg Line south-east of Vaux and Aillon, and carried a position on a front of six kilometres, inflicting exceptional- losses. Many eounior-attacks by the enemy were shattered. _ German columns marching in the direction of Chearnszy and Chamonme wore caught and shattered by our heavy batteries. We captured a whole plateau in the region of Cliemin dcs Dames, from the east of Cernyen I'Donnis to the eaet of Craonne, and reached ridges dominating the valley of Arrette a.nd the forest of Vauclerc. Hitherto over 4000 prisoners were counted. We captured an additional 1000 yesterday.

THE ENEMY'S RESERVES. SMASHED AT CRAONNE. The Germans violently counter-at-tacked at Craonno the positions captured yesterday. Our machine gun and artillery fire inflicted very heavy losses on our assailants, who were unable to reach our lines at any point. Wo also repulsed a strong attack south-east of Berry au Bac. The enemy north-west of Rheims attempted a violent infantry action after our attack yesterday. The .struggle was particularly stubborn. Our troops several times repulsed counter-attacks, made with large effectives.

During the evening important German reserves were thrown in, but our batteries smashed them, with heavy enemy losses. , We identified two fresh divisions on fhis part of the front, where we took 700 prisoners, since yesterday, in the Champagne.

After an intense artillery struggle, a violent fight began towards the evening in the 'region of Mont Cornillet.

Wo advanced on the east and northern slopes of Mont Blond. The enemy attacked with two fresh divisions, which were repulsed. GUARDING LAON. WHAT CRAONNE MEANS TO THE FRENCH. (Received May 7. 9.20 a.m.) London, May 6. Router's correspondent at headquarters says the French successes at Craonne assure them of the definite possession of the long rocky crost dominating the Aisne Valley, and make another breach iv the defences of Laon. The correspondent mentions that airmen flying at a great height see great numbers of German dead, which are quite a feature of the landscape.