THE FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16983, 20 April 1917, Page 5

THE FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

PRESSURE STILL KEPT UP,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Rcuter. LONDON, April 18. A French communique states: In the region south of St. Quentin there lias beeu very great mutual artillery activity. South of tho Oise and ca-ft of the Lower Oruck I'orest t/here have been numerous I patrol ciuriL^cmcnts. Letwecn Koissons and Auberivo wo earned out night operations' in detail, securing us considerable advantages to tho west. A brilliant action gave us the villa™ of Ghavonnc and the complete position at Chivy. Nori-h-east of these places we earned the whole ground as far as the approaches to Braye-en-Laonnais, into which our (patrols penetrated. In tho sectors at Ville-anx-Bois, which wo captured, we have taken several fortified works, and also the woods east of the village. In the Champagne counter-attacks on our positions on both sides of Mont CorJiillet were stopped short by our fire, resulting in bloody enemy losses. ■The artillery duel vas violent on a great part, of tho attacking front. The enemy had withdrawn their hcavv and field artillery to the roar, nevertheless we captured' 12 guns, including three heavy ones, and a considerable quantity of machine guns ana numerous trench entries. Qui- prisoners total 14,000 since April 16.

NEW TACTICAL METHOD. VALUE AGAIN PROVED. Router's Telegrams. PARIS, April 18. Router's correspondent with Headquarters says : It is estimated that 2,00j,0U0' men are engaged in the big offensive. The extension of the French attack to the Champagne illustrates afresh the value of the new tactical method practised by the British at Arras—namely, the constant enlargement of the front as the attack progresses, with great strength on the wiugs; so that when the objective is readied there is no danger of the salient inviting an outflanking move, by the enemy. This method enables the commanders to maintain better contact of troops, and facilitates the artillery work.

COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. FURTHER BRILLIANT SUCCESSES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Rcutor. LONDON, April 19. (Received April 19, at 10.50 p.m.) A French communique states : South of St. Quentin, after a bombardment of the most lively' description, the Uermans attacked east of Gauchy. Their first attempt was stopped dead by our fire, k second and more violent attack resulted in fractions of the enemy penetrating our advanced trenches, but these were all killed or captured by our immediate counterattack, and our line was completely restored. J

Wo vigorously continued our offensive at various points between Soissons and Auberive. De&pite. .persistent bad weather operations west of the attacking front were brilliantly successful. North of Chavonue we captured the village of Ostel and drove the enemy back for a kilometre to the northward. We captured Braye-en-Laonuais and all ho ground eastwards to the vicinity of Courtecon Under the vigorous pressure irom infantry and the murderous fire from artillery the enemy fled in disorder abandoning much material and depots of food We captured 19 guns, including five howitzers, south of Laffaux. . Our troops, covered bv divisional cavalry broke up the enemy and captured Nanteuil-en-Fosse.

.Din ally, south of the Aisue, by a spirited attack we captured the bridgehead between the Conde Valley and Vailly An important unit in the forest of Ville Aubois laid down their arms. The total was 13C0 prisoners.

The Germans in the afternoon furiously counter-attacked with two divisions between Juvincourt and the Aisne. Our barrages and machine gun fire shattered the attack and inflicted sanguinary losses on - enemy, who were nowhere able to approach our lines.

East of Courcy the Russian brigade was worTTA i l - SUCCeS - S ' capturing-a fortified worlv and taking prisoners. i,^TL to6 u ? 4 S un s and field guns the whole of this region. Three sin guns, with .1000 rounds of ammunition enemy mm tely cmplo y cd against the

*inYnW dnCe i d s , everal centres of resistance and captured strong points in the Chamguns were taken ' includln£ eight heavy ones ceec! l/.OJO. Seventy-five guns have been counted up to the present.