FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16216, 22 August 1918, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

BRITISH GAIN GROUND. IN THE FLANDERS AREA. LONDON, August 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been local fighting on both banks of the' Scarpe. We repulsed attacks south of the river against posts wo established eastward of the enemy’s former lino. We advanced a short distance east of Fampoux, after sharp fighting, in which we took prisoners. We gained further ground astride of the Lys. We took L’Epinette and Ore, eastward of Merville. We also took Vierhook and La Couronne, norhtward of Merville. We repulsed a raid northeast of Locre. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the evening of the 20th, states that if the German retirement is according to plan, the Germans arc now confronted with a situation which must complicate their calculations. The hasty abandonment of Merville on the 18th was doubtless due to our unexpectedly obtaining possession of the dominating contour east of Merris.—Press Association. ; OTTAAVA, August 20. The-latest telegrams state that the Sixth German Array, which is retreating from the Lys, includes an army corps comriiandod by the celebrated General von Bernhardi.—Press Association. CONGRATULATIONS TO FOURTH ARMY. LONDON, August 20. The Press Bureau reports: Sir Douglas Haig has telegraphed to General Rawlinson: “Congratulations and thanks to yourself, your staff, and ail ranks on the magnificent success recently gained by the Fourth Army. The brilliant manner in which the operations wcr.e prepared and carried out, with comparatively small losses, by the third Australian and Canadian corps, in conjunction with the cavalry corps, air force, and tank corps, is a striking tribute to the skill of the leaders and the bravery of the individual soldiers, as well as to the high state of efficiency of the staffs and departmental services conceimed. The gallant and skilful cooperation of armoured cars and motor machine-gun batteries is worthy of the highest praise.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. FURTHER PROGRESS MADE. BY FRENCH ARMY. LONDON, August 20. A French communique, issued at four o’clock this evening, states:—There have been reciprocal bombardments in the regions of Lassigny, Dreslincourt and between the Oise and the Aisne. AA r e occupied last evening the village of Vassens, {north-westward of Morsain. The enemy made an abortive raid westward of Maison do Champagne. German aeroplanes bombed Nancy lastevening, about twenty civilians being killed or wounded. General Mangin attacked on practically the same front as on the previous attack. Despite stubborn resistance the offensive is going well on the whole front. A maximum depth of two miles was reached at a point north-east of \ r assens, and the line now runs about five miles from Noyon. The advance is valuable, as the French are now moving along both sides of the stream of Dukiens, which runs into the Aisne and endangering the German positions in the neighbourhood of Soissons, with a good chance of turning them and possibly forcing the enemy to fall back to the Chemin des Dames. General Mangin captured Nampcel, and took the Bois do Vassens, after severe fighting. The Third Army, under General Humbert, yesterday afternoon attacked on a 12-mile front from Fresnieres to the Oise, and at 6 in the evening, in the face of heavy resistance, had advanced a mile further down the slopes of the Lassigny massif into the densely wooded valley of the Oise. This line is now between five and six miles from Noyon. The First Army, under General Debeny, advanced slightly yesterday after lively fighting north of Royo, and took the Bois de Bracquemont, the Bois Monou, and the greater part of Beauvraignes. This army also made progress south-east of Beauvraignes. GERMAN BREACH OF FAITH. OVER EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. (Received August 22, 11,45 a.m.) PARIS, August 21. France has strongly protested against Germany’s irregularities in connection with the agreement for the exchange of prisoners. Germany, probably intentionally, is creating confusion by sending back prisoners on different dates, not stating that the prisoners are from certain camps, also she has not exchanged prisoners in the stipulated ratio which France observed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. ATTACKS ALWAYS REPULSED. (Received August 22, 12.20 p.ra.) LONDON, August 21. A wireless German official message ■states: The French attempted to break through between the Oise and the Aisne. The first assault broke down in the battle positions after a bitter struggle. We repulsed attacks northward of Vi'oux-Berquin. Wo withdrew eastward of Merville, which the enemy occupied. We repulsed attacks southwestward of Chaulnes and north-west-ward of Roye. We repulsed French attacks, after bitter fighting, between Beauvraignes and the Oise, also between Carlenont and Nauvron.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter-