FRENCH AND AMERICANS TAKE OVER 18,000 PRISONERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16968, 30 September 1918, Page 4

FRENCH AND AMERICANS TAKE OVER 18,000 PRISONERS

ADVANCE AT POINTS REACHES DEPTH OF FIVE MILES. THRUST RESUMED WITH UNABATED FORCE ON SECOND DAY Australian and N.Z. and Router, (Reed. £.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. A French communique states: Our troops to-day, with tanks supporting, made a fresh advance on the whole battle front. The enemy vainly attempted to arrest our progress. We made progress in the region of St. Marie-a-Py, despite violent counter-attacks. East of Bommepy we crossed the Challerange railway on a front of three miles, advancing north over a mile and a-quarter. North-east of Tahure we captured a powerfully organised centre of resistance at Gratreuil and Fontaine-en-Dormois. Further east on the right our lines were carried to a 1000 yds south of Boucouville, and we conquered Lechelle and Cernay woods. Since yesterday our advance at certain points has reached a depth of five miles. In two days the prisoners captured by the French exceed 10,000, and much material has been taken. An American communique states: The first army continued to attack north-west of Verdun. We took Charpentry, Very, Epinonville, and Ivoiry. Repeated hostile counter-attacks were thrown back. We have captured over 100- guns, of which 12 were heavy pieces, many trench mortars, and hundreds of machine-guns. Our prisoners now number over 8000, including 125 officers.