MORE EFFECTIVE WORK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16982, 19 April 1917, Page 5

MORE EFFECTIVE WORK.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. London, April is. (Received April-18, at 11.45 p.m.) A French communique states : We extended our action east of Rheims. Wβ attacked the German lines between Prunay, St. Hilaire, and the St. Souplet vti&d. Notwithstanding violent squall* of rain and snow our men advanced with irresistible ardour and carried on a front of 15 kilometres the wnole of the first German position. Our juen, pusihirrg beyond the position south of Moronvillers, brilliantly conquered over an extent of 11 kilometres the lines oi solidly organised heights from Mount Cornillet, east of Vaudisincourt. Further east a spirited action resulted in our capturing the .village of Auberive and the powerfully fortified salient formed by the German line around the village on a front of three kilometres. Enemy counterattacks on Mount Cornillet were shattered We made prisoners of over 2500 men hereabout:

Between Soissons and Eheims we resumed a destructive fire on the German organisations. We destroyed works where small enemy parties were* still resisting. We repulsed in the afternoon a strong counter-attack in the region of the Hurtebise Farm. A violent attempt in this sector of the country, wliich is occupied by tho Russians, also failed. During the battle of the 16th between Soissons and Rheims our men broke up important German forces who, expecting an attack, brought up 19 divisions. Prisoners state that orders were given to them to hold out at any cost on the first position, which had been deepened' The enemy suffered heavy losses. _On the eve of the attack.an enemy division was engaged' doing relief in a sector in the neighbourhood. ' The division losi a large part of its. effectives through the violence of our artillery fire. The number of unwounded prisoners taken between Soissons and Rheims now totals 11.000.