A FIVE DAY CONFLICT

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11631, 5 September 1918, Page 5

A FIVE DAY CONFLICT

FRENCH DIFFICULT TASK. (•i: A DEAD-LITTERED FIELD. London, Sept. 4. Renter’s correspondent at French headquarters writes; General Mangin’s attack on the plateau between the Ailette and the Aisne yesterday afternoon resulted in another important advance. Oh the left, opposite Guny, we have a bridgehead across the Ailette and French troops have occupied the woods westward of Coney le Chateau. We have also established a footing in a little wood south-east of Moulin de Nosent, so we are now barely a mile from Coney. Terny-Sorny, which resisted several attacks, has been captured and a footing obtained on the plateau north-east of Crouy. We are on the edge of the second plateau, across the Margival Valley, through which the Soissocs-Laon railway runs. Over 12U0 were taken prisoner during the day. Tanks pleved an important pan in yesterday’s French attack. The enemy is naturally defending the plateau tooth and nail. Prussian Guards Slivered live futile counter-attacks, leaving the ground littered with their dead. Five day’s hard fighting between the Ailette and the Aisne have given good results. The srstpowerfully-organised line across the Terny-Sorny Plateau has been taken and the second line is already foing attacked. The French are the Ailette at several points, rhe battle has used up several of tie enemy’s divisions, which are no Stated for Mangin’s colonials.