SUCCESSES CONTINUE

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1917, Page 3

SUCCESSES CONTINUE

ENORMOUS CAPTURE OF PRIS ONERS. (Rec. April 19 y 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. A French communique states: South of St. Quentin after a very lively bom- .„ bardment the Germans attacked east of Gouchy. Their first attempt was stopped dead by our fire. The second, which was more violent, resulted fractions of the enemy penetrating our advanced trenches, but these were all killed or captured. By immediately counter-attacking our line was completely restored. We vigorously continued the offensive at various points between Soissons f dnd Auberive. Despite 1 the' persistent bad weather the operations on the west attacking front were brilliantly successful. North of Chavonne we captured the village of Ostcl and drove back the enemy one kilometre northwards. We captured Braye en. Lannoise and all the ground •' eastward- to the vicinity of Courticon. Under vigorous pressure by our infantry and a murderous fire from t'ne artillery the enemy fled .in disorder abandoning much material and depots of food. '■'We captured nineteen guns, including' five howitzers.*! South of L 'Affaux our troops covered by divisional cavalry broke up' the enemy and captured Nantevil en Posse. Finally south of the .Aisne by a spirited attack we captured the bridge-head between. Conde Valley and Vailly. An important unit was surrounded in the forest of Ville au Bois and laid down its arms totalling 1300 prisoners. The Germans j in the afternoon furiously counter ' attacked with two divisions between Juvincourt and the Aisne. Our barrages and machine gun fire shattered the attack and inflicted sanguinary --losses on the enemy, who were no- 1 where able to approach our lines. East of Cpurey the Russian brigade crowned its success by capturing afortied works taking prisoners. We took twenty-four heavy and field guns in the .whole of the region, and three five-inchers, each "with a • thousand rounds. They were immediately employed against the enemy. We reduced several centres of resistance and captured sw*ong -points in the Champagne, when twenty guns, which included eight heavy, were taken. t he number r of un wounded prisoners taken since the opening of the battle exceeds 17,000, and 75 guns have hitherto been . counted.