FRENCH FRONT.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 19, 8 March 1918, Page 3

FRENCH FRONT.

ENEMY ATTACKS THROWN BACK. LONDON, March 3. A French communique says:— Two enemy columns attacked last night east of Chavignon, and were thrown back with heavy losses after violent hand-to-hand fighting. Another attempt east of Corbeny was equally unsuccessful. There is lively mutual artillery action between the Milthe and the Aisne, and in the sector of Eheims, where civil hospitals were set on fire and systematically bombarded during the fire. The enemy bombarded our first lines in Champagne last night, notably in the direction of Butte-du-Mesnil, west of which an enemy attack was driven back except at one point. Simultaneously a powerful enemy raid east of Suippes was completely defeated.

There is considerable artillery activity in the Woevre. One of our crews carried out a photographic reconnaissance as far as Maiienburg, eighty kilometres behind the lines.

There is an intense artillery duel in \ the region north and north-west of i Rheims, and in Champagne. _ I South-west of the Butte-du-Mesnil | the enemy, after being driven out by counter-attacks from some points, reasaulted with fresh forces. After several unsuccessful attempts with heavy losses the enemy regained a footing in part of the positions we captured on February 13th. The-enemy violently bombarded our first lines- on the front BeaumontChaume Wood, and also at Suchepaez, where a big raid was repulsed at two points last night. In to-day's attacks the American troops were in contact with special raiding troops. The Americans everywhere held their lines intact, inflicting J appreciable losses. A later communique states there is intense artillery fighting at many points from the Ghemin-des-Dames to the Meuse. The enemy are aggressively active, notably north-west and southeast of Eheims. They attempted to debotoho against our salient at Neufchatel, but a counter-attack drove them out of the elements in which they had succeeded in getting a footing. Simultaneously they fruitlessly attacked at La Pompello, and then violently re-attacked, making renewed efforts to reach the fort of La Pompelle and isolated elements. They succeeded in gaining a footing in the northern portion and in a small work west of the fort element. They also abortively attacked east and south of La Beatonorie, in Champagne. The Gormans attacked in the direction' of Mcnt Cornillet on a front of 800 metres, but found four trenches which had previously been evacuated under instructions. The enemy were immediately driven out, and by a coun-ter-attack the position was entirely re-established. Our fire broke another attack east of the Teton. We inflicted serious losses. A violent bombardment is proceeding south-west of the Butte-du-Mesnil. Enemy raids in Lorraine and the Vosges were repulsed.