ACTIVITY ON THE FRENCH FRONT.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14651, 4 March 1918, Page 5

ACTIVITY ON THE FRENCH FRONT.

REPEATED ENEMY ATTACKS.

REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association;

and Renter.)

(Received March 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 2

A French communique says:—

Two enemy coltmns attacked last night east of Chavigr.on, and were thrown back witb heavy losses after violent hand-to-hand fighting.

Another attempt east of Corbeny was equally,; unsuccessful.1

There is lively mutual artillery action between the Milthe and the Aisne, and in the sector of Rheims, wrere 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 mountainous region of the Suippes, and in the direction of Butte-du-Mesni-west of vfkicl' an enemy attack was driven back except at c:io point.

Simultaneously a poweiful enemy raid east of Suippes was coxnpletelv defeated.

• There is considerable artillery activity in the Woevre.

One of our crews carried out q photographic reconnaissance as far as Marienburg, eighty .. kilometres behind

the lines.

There is an intense artillery di.'el in the region north and northwest of Rheinis, and in Champagne.

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 tte enemy regained a footing in part of the positions wo captured on I February 13th.

The enemy violently bombarded our first lines on the front BeaumontChaume Wood, and also at Suchepaevs, where a big laid was repulsed at two points last night.

In to-day's attacks the American troops were in contact with special raiding troops. The Americana everywhere held their lines intact, inflicting appreciable losses. •

A later communique says:—

There is intense artillery fighting at many points from the Chemin-des-Dames to the Meuse.

The enemy are aggressively active, notably north-west and south-east of Rheims. They attempted to debotthe against our salient at Neufchatcl, 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 Pompelle, 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 tie northern portion and in a small work west of the fort element.

They also abortively attacked east and south of La Beatonerie, in Champagne. The Germans attacked in the direction of Mont Corniliet on a front of 800 metres, but found four trenches whicri had previously been evacuated under instructions. The enemy were immediately driven out, and by a counter-at-tack tire position was entirely re-estab-lished.

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.