SOUTHERN FRONT

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13891, 17 October 1918, Page 5

SOUTHERN FRONT

FRENCH RCAC'tf PETREL (Australian and N.Z. Ca'ble' AsSti.) Received OctoW 17, 9.10 a.m. NEW YORK, October IC. The French have reached the outskirts of Rethel, on the Upper Aisne. ADVANCE ON THE AISNE. FRENCH PROGRESS ON THE SERRL. (Australian, N.Z. and Reuter.) Received October 17, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, October 15. A French communique says that on the Aisne we advanced in the region of Arsonville. We skirt the southern bank of the, Serre as far as Pouilly sur Serre, which is in our-.hands. We progressed northwest of Marchais, taking 400 prisoners. Further east we captured La Selve and (lizy le Comte. Westward of Grandpre we hold the Vouziers-Grandpre road. In this region we took an additional iOO prisoners.

ATTACKS ON THE MEUSE. AMERICANS STUBBORNLY RESISTED SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS MADE. (Australian. N.Z. and Reuter.) Received October 17, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, October 15. An American communique states that we continued our attacks on both sides of the Meuse. We were stubbornly resisted by a reinforced enemy eastward of the Meuse. The FrancoAmericans gained ground to the westward, where the lighting has violently increased. We gained substantially, including Hill 299, which thrice changed hands. We broke the KriemhieldSellung lines at new points, where hand-to-hand fighting occurred.

FIGHTING WORTH OF VERDUN. GREAT CONCENTRATION OF MACHINE-GUNS. CAPTURE OF HILL 299. HELD AGAINST BITTER COUNTER-* ATTACKS. AN ALL-DAY BATTLE. HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 17, 12.10 p.m. NEW YORK, October IC. Mr Edwin James writes: The advance north of Verdun was made against the greates! concentration of machine-guns the Germans have vet utilised on the American front, The slippery sides of Hill 299 and the rest of Bantheville were scaled by General Pershing's men and held against the bitterest counter-attacks. The battle for positions at Bois Echantillion lasted all day, with heavy German losses. American observers flew at a height of 300 yards over the enemy lines.