BRITISH REPULSE RESERVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16927, 13 August 1918, Page 5

BRITISH REPULSE RESERVES

J FRENCH SUCCESSES IN SOUTH GAINS BETWEEN AVRE AND OISE HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR ROYE 35,000 PRISONERS IN THREE DAYS

The feature of the British operations in Plcardy on Sunday morning was a counter-attack by German reserves in considerable force at Libons« a mile and a»half norih«west of Chaulnes. /The attack was repulsed with heavy enemy losses, the only gain, north of the village, being immediately nullified by a determined British counter-thrust. An unofficial report states that Chaulnes has been captured by Canadians and Australians.

During the fighting on the left wing of the advance, the French made rapid progress east and south of Montdidier, advancing from the west and south to within 3} miles of Roye. Further south the French advanced in the wooded country between the Matz and the Oise, and a drive north towards Lassigny was begun.

The correspondent of the Morning Post states that the region fronting Roye became the scene of stubborn fighting on Sandfly. The enemy, occupying his old defences, made a determined effort to stem the advance, concentrating many reserve divisions and throwing in every available man, in. eluding non-combatants. >

It is reported from Paris that up to Saturday night the French and British had taken 35,000 prisoners and over 500 t guns. A London estimate places the prisoners, at 36,000, while ' Mr. Lloyd George announced that the Marne and Soiame oflensives had yielded nearly 60,000 prisoners and 900 guns.

The. activity of the British air service over the battiefront is strikingly maintained. On Saturday 41 enemy aeroplanes were brought down and 20 driven: down, for the'loss of 12 British machines. Fifty-four tons of bombs were dropped, and a record . number of rounds of ammunition fired on the retreating enemy. , The Independent Air Force made a raid on Karlsruhe on Sunday. ■. V