THE WEST FRONT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11477, 4 March 1918, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT.

GREAT OFFENSIVE COMMENCED. SOME PRELIMINARY TRIALS. SEVERAL ATTACKS ON THE FRENCH. United Press Associaion—By Elec trie Telegrax>h—Copyright. London, March 1. A French communique states: — There was an intense artillery duel in the region north and northwest of Kheims and in, the Champagne south-west of Butte du Mesuin.» The enemy after ; being driven out by our counter-attacks from some points, re-assaulted-with fresh -forces. After several unsuccessful attempts, with heavy losses, the enemy regained a footing in part of the positions we captured on the 13tn. The enemy violently bombarded our iirst lines in front of Beaumont and the Chunme Wood and also at Snchoprcz, where a big raid w r as repulsed. At two points in last night’s and to-day’s attacks the American troops were in contact with the enemy’s special raiding troops. The Americans everywhere held their lines intact, inflicting appreciable loss