DESPERATE FIGHTING ON AISNE HEIGHTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 12 July 1917, Page 7

DESPERATE FIGHTING ON AISNE HEIGHTS.

CROWN PRINCE SACRIFICES MANY MEN. WONDERFUL FRENCH GALLANTRY REGAINS GROUND. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 32, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. The "Daily Chronicle’s” correspondent at the French Headquarters says that the Chemin des Dames Ridge continues to he the scene of fighting, the desperate obstinacy of which recalls the fighting before Yerdun. The Crown Prince launched his troops against the narrow crest of hills in an endeavour to win back the lost observatories and caverns where the Germans hid safely for two years. There was particularly fierce fighting on Sunday between the Pantheon Farm and the Froidmont.Farm, the German infantry charging behind a storm of shells. Twelve fresh battalions reinforced the attackers and detachments of engineers with flame projectors participated in the attack which the French repelled with difficulty as thus far they have been unable to establish a proper system of defence upon the bare slopes. The French were far outnumbered upon the threatened sector but fought from shell-holes to shell-holes when driven out of their trenches. Bombardments during Sunday brought relief to the sorelypressed Foot Chasseurs, enabling the French to regain nearly the whole of the lost ground. The artillery barrage meanwhile caused the Germans losses far exceeding those of the French. The fighting has quite obliterated the Chemin des Dames position which is now only traceable by a few trees and stumps. The position gives such a splendid view over many of the enemy lines that the platform is bound to be bitterly contested until further progress is made. The French, however, still possess a first-class observatory in the fort on the plateau of Malmaison.