FRENCH ADVANCE SIX MILES ON THIRTY-MILE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16921, 6 August 1918, Page 5

FRENCH ADVANCE SIX MILES ON THIRTY-MILE FRONT.

VESLE BANKS HELD BETWEEN SOISSONS AND FISMES. CAVALRY PATROLS OPERATING ON RHEIMS RAILWAY. Australian and N.Z and Renter. LONDON, Aug. 4. A French communique states: During the day our troops, driving back the enemy rearguards, continued their glorious march on a front of about 30 miles in the direction of the Vealo. On our left we reached the southern banks of the Aisne and the Vesle from Soissons to Fismes, the outskirts of which the Americans hold. East of Fismes we reached a general line north of Courville, three miles south of Fismes, Branscourt, five miles further east, Courcelles-Sapicourt, eight miles west of Rheims, and C'hampigny, three miles west of Rheims. Our cavalry reconnaissances are operating along the Soissons-Rheims railway at certain points. Our progress exceeded since yesterday six miles. Over 50 villages were liberated in a single day. An American official report says: The enemy has been driven in confusion beyond the lino of the Vesle. Since July 18, in the course, of operations, 8400 prisoners and 133 guns have been captured by us. A later French report states: The battlefront is unchanged, and there is nothing to report.