TREMENDOUS FIGHTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9720, 24 July 1917, Page 5

TREMENDOUS FIGHTING

INCONTESTABLE VICTORY FOR FRENCH ENEMY LOSSES VERY HEAVY BRITISH LINE ADVANCED NEAR MONCHY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Router. (Received July 23, 9.40 p.m j LONDON, July 22. A French- communique states:—There is violent enemy bombardment on the Aisno front, from Chccrigny Spur to tho south of Corbony. Tho Germane at daybreak powerfully attacked with fresh troops brought up the previous evening between Hurtcbisc and the casemates of tho plateau. The hostile waves oi assault were shattered by fire and thrown back upon their own trenches.

Our heavy batteries dispersed enemy masses south of the Ailette with severe losses. Simultaneously, our torces bmiianxiy repelled a violent attack on the casemates oi ,tho. California Plateau. the-* artillery duel continues with- redoubled intensity in the wnole region, the enemy being most active during the night time on both bank cf the mouse. There are lively artillery duels in the regions of Avocourt and iiezouvaux and the whole of t-lio St. Miliicl sector. line Germans - attacked on two pomts north oi Jbezonvaux. After a sharp fight we completely drove them out ircni sonic elements in winch they Had gained a footing. , e , Two enemy attempts to reucii our trenches on the heights cf tho Meuse and at Touohot, near Chevaliers Woo'd','faked. A later communique states:—The battle continued throughout tho day with extreme violence in the region of .Hurtebise and Oraonne. Observers were located at numerous German batteries -and the whole of their principal efforts were directed against the caseinates on the California Plateau, winch powerful effectives attacked, ours resisting with admirable bravery, and vigorously counter-attacking. Tho enemy was thrown back often from the casemates,, to which he had clung, with enormous losses. Tho enemy obtained a foothold on tho California Plateau first lino during the afternoon fighting, and continues to hold it desperately. There is lively artillery work in the champagne and on the left bank of the Meuse. < High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON, July 22, 10.50 p.-m. French official.—Heavy fighting continued all day in the region of Hurtobise and' Craonne. After a bombardment of unprecedented intensity, tho enemy ceaselessly attacked with powerful effectives. Wo vigorously resisted with hand-to-hand fighting. The enemy was repeatedly hung up at the casemates on tho Plateau, and suffered enormously. The enemy, after repeated checks, gained a footing in our first line. Fighting still continues. FIERCE FIGHTING IN CHEJV3IN-DES-OAIVIES SECTOR PICKED ENEMY BATTALIONS DEFEATED. i Center’s Telegrams. ; ' (Received l July 23, 9.40 p.m.) ’ LONDON, July 22. : Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters describing the attack on a four mile front in tho Chemin. des Dames sector on the 18th inst., in which the Fiftieth Division of Prussian Guards, composed of picked battalions, participated and were repulsed' says:—‘•Everywhere along the crest Germans have only a stono’s-throw to climb and roach tho French front line; in some places they are 15 yards apart. The French are hanging almost vertically over the Germans. Tho latter obtained a single success at one point because it was practically impossible for the French artillery to protect its own front line. A desperate hand-to-hand conflict raged all night, but the enemy was driven out of all mom entary gains by the morning.” INCONTESTABLE VICTORY FOR THE FRENCH DESPERATE AND MERCILESS BATTLE SEAR CERNY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. PARIS, July 22. M. Marcel Hutin writes: —“One of tho most battles, and probably the most merciless of the war, has terminated south’ of Cerny, in an incontestable victory for tho French infantry and a bloody defeat for the best of the German troops, represented by tho Brandenburg Guards. Tho heaps of the enemy's dead testify to his phenomenal losses.'’ BRITISH LINE SLIGHTLY ADVANCED NEAR RfiONCHY ACTIVITY OF HOSTILE ARTIILERY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Patrol encounters Inst night north-west of St. Quentin and south of Lens resulted in our favour. We slightly advanced our lino south-east of Monchy-lc-Proux. Hostile artillery is active at Armcntierea and tho coast. ALLIED FIGHTING ACTIVITY INCREASES GERMAN OFFICIAL ADMISSION.

Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received July 23, 8.50 p.m.) * ' LONDON, July 22. A wireless German official message states :—r The enemy’s fighting activity has increased generally on the West front. Wo successfully penetrated French positions at Brayo and Corny.

KAISER GOES JO EAST BOOT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 23, 5.5 p.m.) ' COPENHAGEN, July 22. The Kaiser has gone to th© East front. GRECIAN KING'S HOPE AN ALLIED TRIUMPH. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received July 23, 10.40 p.m.) ATHENS, July 23. The King telegraphed to the Belgians on tho occasion of the Belgian Independence Anniversary sympathetically conveying Greece’s hope 01 an Allied triumph.

WAR MEASURES

BEFORE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. By Tetecrapli—Press Association—Copyritjh* Australian and N.Z. Cable Association WASHINGTON. July 22.’ The Senate has passed the Aviation Bill, with one dissenting vote. The Senate passed the redrafted Food Bill, providing three food administrators, instead of empowering Mr Hoover with full control. The bill provides for the control of food and fuel and feed Tor stock, and prohibits the manufacture of intoxicants except beer and wine for the duration of the war. It directs President \Vilson to commandeer the present stock of whisky, and fixes the minimum price of wheat at two dollars (8s 4d) till July, 1919, in order to stimulate wheat production.