THE FRENCH FRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16754, 24 July 1916, Page 5

THE FRENCH FRONT.

ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED.

AVIATORS' WORK

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, July 21. A communique states that the enemy late on Wednesday counter-attacked south of Sojecourt. The battalion which led the assault was caught in our curtain file from mitraillepses. and fdl back in disorder with very heavy losses. The night was calm on both sides, of the Somme. We repulsed with the ba-vonet a strong party of enemy raiders in the Chaulues region. Oiu- air squadrons bombarded the stations of Conflans, Mars la Tour, Brieulles, and Ham Junction with large projectiles. The fact that the Germans bombarded the open towns of Baccarat and Luneville has been noted for reprisals. KILLED IN FRANCE. AN IRISH REBEL'S SON. LONDON, July 21 Peter M'Bride, a private m the Yorkslrre and Lancashires, was killed in France. He was a yon of " Major" M'Bride. who was recently executed as one of the S'nn Fein rebels. LATEST FRENCH ATTACKS. REALLY BRILLIANT WORK. STAFF'S EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED. LONDON. July 21. General Hiig's report shows, that the British new position seriously thieatons tho German third line. Fouraux Wood is the highest ground on the sector. The ridge commands the German position, bevond where the country is. less broken and wood'id. Litest accounts show that the French attacks yesterday were extraordinarily successful Picked troops were chosen to att ick ihe German positions irom the Herdecourt height to tho river opposite Ranches. The attackers left the tienihes at chum, and by 9 Ind completed the task, w hit h the staff 1 would occupy them for the entire day. A German " counter-attack left the French masters of all the prv-il ions

REASON FOR FRENCH ATTACKS,

FORMIDABLE ENEMY POSITIONS

PARIS, July 21. The Fiendi operations south of Estiees weie in3i'i"-suy to protect, tin' right Haniof tlio pre\ious attacking fiont, which was constantly under stiong German intillei .> Ino, the special object of tlio (Jeimans' defence being to piotect the bridgeheads at Eterpigny and lirue. The Geuuan positions between E=tree* and Guanines and between Cliaulnes and Rove aie fntnudable, the ground hav.ng been tians funned into veritable labyrinths. RECENT FRENCH CAPTURES POSITIONS OF EXCEEDING STRENGTH. A JUMBLE OF PRISONERS " LONDON, July 22. The positions captuied on the Vermand villei's line were of great strength. The Fiencli colonial battalions attticked at some points . o .mpetuously 'hat they o\et ran thiee lines of trenches without kns. Elsewhere they were less fortunate. The Soyecourt labyrinth and Starwood wero carried by assault. The village was surrounded on three sides, and two whole enemy companion were defending a re doubt near Vei mandvillers Farm The colonials captured also a company belonging to a regiment brought from Verdun. -Ymong the. prisoners was an extiaordinary jumble of Wurtemburgers, Saxons, Badenet's, Bavarians, and Prussians, mostly between the ages of 17 and 20. PROGRESS NEAR FLEURY. PARIS, July 23. (Received July 23, at 11.35 p.m.) A communique states: We progressed in the Floury district.