GREAT FRENCH SUCCESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 9

GREAT FRENCH SUCCESS.

HEAVY FIGHTING ROUND CRAONNE. COMPLETE REPULSE 01' THE ENEMY. GROUND COVERED WITH GERMAN DEAD. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 20. A French official report says — In tho region of Hurtebiso and Craonno very violent fighting took place yesterday evening. A powerful concentration of artillery preceded the German assault with important forces on our plateaux before Craonne and Vauclero. Fighting hand to hand our men defended their positions magnificently. The enemy was unable to set foot in cur positions, which we maintained intact, despite heavy enemy sacrifices. The ground between tho lines was covered with dead, testifying to the bloody defeat of the enemy. Between the plateaux of California and the Casemate the enemy attacks were equally unsuccessful. (The Calitornic and Vauclerc plateaux, tho scones of the terrific fighting described in this message, aro two of the French positions which form valuable stations of observation, for the whole valley of the Ailette, north of the Aisne region. They rise close to the town of Craonne and fringe tho great Laon Plateau, which is broken uft by many ravines and gullies. On the north they are bounded by the valley of the Ailette, and on the south by the valley of the Aisne. On tho east the wooded slopes fall abruptly towards the comparatively level country of llio Western Champagne. Craonne stands at the extreme north-east-ern corner of tho high grcrand, immediately below the Ailette, and is situated on the higher slopes overlooking the level country to tho eastward, across which pass many roads and several railways, which supply tho German front to the northward and eastward of Rheims. When the conquest of tho final observation posts is complete the Germans from the south-east of Laon to the north of Rheima will bo m a perilous position )