THE AISNE VICTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 October 1917, Page 5

THE AISNE VICTORY.

GERMAN LOSSES ABOUT 26,000.

•COMMANDING POSITIONS GAINED

BY FRENCH

GOOD WORK BY TANKS

(Australian-N.Z. C.A. and Reuter.) PARIS, Oct. 25.. Le Matin states that the German losses in the Aiane fighting were about' 26,000. The victory means that the enemy, who has been on the defensive since February, 1916, is etill unable to take the initiative anywhere, and will be forced to make a strategic retreat in order to avoid disaster. (Renter Service.) LONDON, Oct. 25. | Reuters correspondent at Frenck headquarters says the strategic intention of the High. Command ,in the Aisne battle is to finally and completely thrust the enemy off the crest line. "We now hold practically the entire line of crests between Craonne and Vauxaillon, and in addition we have got a commanding view of the Ailette valley from end to end. We have also & view up the Ardon valley, at the head of j which stands Laon, and a view northward across the plain over the enemy communication to Anizy, in the Upper Coucy forest. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent afc the French headquarters states that the French tanks did good work In the last battle. Their mechanism is like the British, but the machines axe smaller, possessing greater manoeuvring power than our early models, and they carry field guns and several maehineguns. The tanks captured the ruined farmsteads' which were holding up the attack. The French artillery smashed the caves and tunnels on two plateaux in the sector. Four hundred Germans, who were trapped in a quarry, refused "to emerge, believing the French, massacred their prisoners, until assurances "were given to the contrary.