SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY THE FRENCH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3138, 17 July 1917, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY THE FRENCH

POSITIONS CARRIED BY ASSAULT SUBSTANTIAL GAINS IN THE CHAMPAGNE REGION , , „ . London, July 15. A. J! rcncli olhci.il communique reports fighting at Coucy, where a German attack was Topulsed. Thero is lively artillery action at numerous points.—Aus.N.,G. Cable Assn.-lteuter. (Roc. July IG, 10.15 p.m.) , _ London, July 15. A irench official report states: "After several hours' gunfire, the Germans last evening heavily attacked our salient west of Cerny. A violent fight with alternate ins advances and retreats continued all night. Despite largo enemy effectives and i?- ? S '? 11S '- V6 llse °f flame-throwers, the enemy was unable to "hold the trench which he had penetrated, merely occupying some of the first-lino elements on a front of five hundred yards. . 'After a big artillery preparation, our troops last evening attacked at two points m the Champagne, and gained all their objectives north of Slont Haut and the slopes of Teton, carrying the position with splendid dash on a front of eight hundred yards, to a depth of three hundred yards tho enemy's powerfully-organ-ised system of trenches. A succession of violent counter-attacks, after hand-to-hand fighting, failed with heavy loses to tho enemy. All the conquered positions were maintained. Our artillery caught «nd heavily punished the enemy's concentration of relief troops."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. (Roc. July 16, 11.50 p.m.) London, July IG. A hrench comnluniquo states: "Tho artillery struggle has -slackened west of Cerny and in Champagne. Wo have organised the positions wo captured last evening north of Mont Haut and Teton."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT

ARTILLERY DUELS, AIR FIGHTS, AND PATROL ' ENCOUNTERS. London, .Tuly 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There are heavy reciprocal artillery actions and air fighting. Fifteen German aeroplanes were brought down, and seven of ours are missing. Patrol encounters resulted to our advantage south-east of HavTincourt. "We successfully mado raids near Bullecourt and Gavrelle, and south of Armentiercs, and repulsed raiders north-cast of Armentieres."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT

(Rec. July IC, 9.15 p.m.) London, July 15. A German official report states: "There is violent artillery activity ori the coast, and between Bocsinglie and Wytsehaete, near Yprcs, at Lens, and astride tho Scarps River. Wo repulsed English advances near Gavrelle, of Croisilles, and near Bullecourt, and captured important positions at tlie Ch'emin-des-Dames, south-east of Courtecon, on fifteen hundred yards of front and to three hundred yards in depth. The enemy desperately Tesisted in a hand-to-hand fight. We held our objectives against three counter-attacks.' After four days of artillery preparation the French attacked from the south of Hauroy to tho southcast of Moronvillers. The assault was substantially repulsed. The enemy penetrated a few places at Hochberg and Poeliberg. Fighting is proceeding. An enemy attack on Hill 304, on the left bank of the Jleuse, reached our trenches, but collapsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter, -