FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1918, Page 2

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS

ALL attacks IIHLD

[rr.R PREBB ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. 3

LONDON, July 16

A French communique states that the battle continued towards the end of the afternoon with redoubled violence between Chateau Thierry and Rheims The enemy accentuated his efforts to enlarge his lines. lie launched ruinous attacks. The fighting was particularly violent south of the Marne in the region of Chatillion. The Franco-Amcriean troops resisted the enemy magnificently and counterattacked vigorously on several occasions.

1000 PRISONERS TAKEN.

ENEMY LOSSES HIGH.*

LONDON, July 17. A French communique states that south of the Marne the Germans were unahlo to pass our lino at St Agnan, la Chapello, Mont Ilonon, and the southern confines of the Forest of Douqignv. Wo imprisoned a thousand in this region. We held Marenilsev, north of the Marne.

We held the' enemy ut the southern approaches to Chatillion, and south of the eastern borders of Rodemat W ood. There is no appreciable change on the rest of the line.

The, enemy made no attempt during the night east oT Rheims The Germans, exhausted by the fruitless struggle of yesterday, were Unable to pass beyond our cover zone which runs through Prunay and southern birders and woods northward of the Roman high road, as far as the Suippe region, north of Souain. Our battle positions hare not been enroached upon anywhere. It is reported that the German losses yesterday were extremely hi^rh.

A foiled MOVE.TANKS STREWTttE GROUND PARIS, July 16. Semi-official orders found on pris- v 'oners show that the Germans ox- ** pected to reach Epemay on the evening of the loth, and Chalons,surMarne, on the 16th and Sezanne on the 17th. They employed thirty to thirtyfive divisions. Owing to heavy losses the shock divisions, instead of being relieved in tho evening wero sent back during the morning to be reformed. Hundreds of German dead wero hanging on the barbed wire. . Numerous enemy tanks strew the ground. HOLDING THE ENEMY. , lAUBI AUB TRAM 4N d*- N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & BETJTEK.] '"Received This Dav at 950 a.m.\ i LONDON, July 1". A French communique states that the enemy efforts everywhere were in j vain. Storming troops wero repulsed with hoary losses and orders found on prisoners confirm that the attack on the Champagne front was carried out by fifteen divisions in tho lino and ten in reserve. It was intended to advance twenty kilometres the first day, so as to reach the Marne. BATTLE S'ITLL RAGES. STUBBORN FIGTHING. 1 AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION <fc rr.PTETt.]

(Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.)

LONDON, July 17

The 1.25 morning French communique states the Germans wore unable to resume a general attack which was broken yesterday, but the violently endeavoured to enlarge their local successes. Fighting was ' particularly stubborn south of the Marne. All the.morning and afternoon wc impeded his attempts to advance up the river by. a defence foot by foot, and held it on the line of Nevilly-Lcuvoing. We counter-attacked on foot at Saiyagnan, La Chapelle and Monthodon. We took these places and carried our lino to the heights dominating the valley of tho Marne in the region of La Bour-Domnerie. The Fra neo-Italia ns between the Marne and Rhcims repulsed* several enemy attempts and maintained their positions. [East of Rhcims tho Ccrmans in the morning resumed violent artillery preparations, after which the attacks followed. At several points the enemy powerful attempts in. the direction of Bcaumont-sur-Vcsle, but were unable to debouch from Prunav. Our fire broke down two attacks west of the river. In the sector of Suippe the fighting was equally lively, and north of Craonne and east of Tabu re, where the onemv attacked.