MORTHOMME ASSAULT.

Northern Advocate, 2 July 1917, Page 2

MORTHOMME ASSAULT.

FRENCH TRENCHES ENTERED.

ATTAdKERS ANNIHILATED.

< Australian and N.Z. etc. and Beuter.) ■LONDON, June 29. A French communique spates: "Th« enemy were active last night on the Aisne front, following up a violent bombardment by 'the liveliest in the region of iCerny, south-east or Cofdfoiy and .north-east of Rbeims. A/

their attempts to shatter our position failed. The struggle was particulari.

lively in the region of Cerny, when

the enemy attacked several times aK. two different points. They gain's-d ,*- ---footing in our first line north-east <.* Cerny, but an energetic counter-at.*

tack drove them out. There wa& an ( intense artillery duel on the left' bank.of the Meuse in the region of Avocourt, and at the foot of Hill After a violent bombardment the .E mans last night (powerfully attacked} J 'with special storming troops on aY, front of two kilomiE'tres west of Hill A.*' 304, Our fire disorganised the at- ,X tack which secured' a footing at some V points in. our first line. enemy attempt east of Hill 304 this : . morning- was completely repulsed.

(High Commissioner's Cable.) WELLINGTON, July 1,

Th High Commissioner reports, under date, London, 30th June, 11 p.m.:—A French official message says: f "Yesterday evening we counter-at- i tacked westward of Hill 304, in the I region of Avocourt and Morthomm'-, securing part of the trenches the enemy had previously taken. Simultaneously the Germans powerfully attacked westward of Morthomm, e . on-a two-kilometre front. We valiantly resisted, 'entirely annihilating the attackers. The enemy penetrated our first line of trenches on the front attacked, but was ejected by energetic counter-attacks, except on the slopes westward of Morthomme, where he maintained a precarious footing."