COUP-DE-MAIN ON THE FRENCH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3139, 18 July 1917, Page 5

COUP-DE-MAIN ON THE FRENCH FRONT

FRENCH HOLD THEIR NEW GAINS FURIOUS COUNTER-ATTACKS BY THE GERMANS Tho High Commissioner reports-.— An i «• ■ , l , , .., l London, July 16, 3.10 p.m. A J-rench official report states: "Between tho Soramo and tho Aisne thero Has oeon a senes of coups-de-iiiain. Enot of St. Quentin ana west of Alternant three enemy attempts failed completely, and wore rolled back after lively fighting boutli of Allies we have progressed, taking some prisoners. In tho regions ot Mont Hayt and Mont Tetuu the Germans attacked with stron* forces the positions token on Saturday. We energetically resisted tho enemy's superior numbers At Mont letun the enemy was unsuccessful and suffered heavy losses. , l„v Haut fiter stubborn fighting all night, the enemy, who had regained sll? ?■ °l tho «i l P tuml ground, was rolled back by brilliant counter-attacks. At of reporting only some elements of the trenches remain witli tlio By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Hoc. July 17, 11.10 p.m.) A French official communique states-.—"The lighting in Champa'"ne * whirl, began during tho night at Mont Hunt, ended in 'tho complete defeat of the Oar mans, who, despite violent efforts, were unable to recapture tho ground wo won on July K. l'liese attacks were murderous for tho enemy, who launched three waves ol assault. Our fire mowed down two, while one penetrated our lines Alter a nereo conflict, which lasted until daylight, our troops annihilated the detachments and regained possesion of all tho ground they had won. Pixteen Hundred slioils were thrown into Keims, where the artillery fir© is of . the"liveliest kind."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT o;. n i rr • , „„ . London, July 16. •u\ ■ D ? u^l J as JJ ai jf sports: "Reciprocal artillery actions are in progress" in ihe neighlxrarhcods of Aremnticres, Wytscluete, and Meuport. Qur aeroplanes on l'riday night bombed four important railway stations, a large German rest camp, an aerodronw, and ammunition dumps. On Saturday, in spito of thunderstorms, tho aircraft worked in valuable co-operation with the artillery. Wo brought down three German machines, and drove down two. Five of ours aro ruiesmg."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. LINE ADVANCED NORTH OF MESSINES. (Rec. July 17, 9.25 p.m.) London, July.lG. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We successfully raided tho enemv's trenches eastward of Vermelles, and slightly advanced our line north-eastward"of Jlessines. Hostile artillery firing has increased in intensity southward of Lens, and in the neighbourhood of Armentieros/"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rc-c. July 17, 6.30 p.m.) ~. _ . ■ , , London, July 10. A Gorman official report states: The English thrice unsuccessfully attempted to recapture positions they lost at Lombaertzyde. There is strong artillery firing on the coast front, and also from the Y'set or tho Lys, and from the La Bassee Canal to the south bank of the Scarpe. Tho French failed to wapture the positions thoy lost southward of Courlosou, and also fruitlessly attacked southward of La Bovelle Farm, and north-west of Sillery. Our trench in West Champagno remained in the enemy's hands after all-night fighting. We failed to maintain the trenches wo recaptured at Hochberg, but reached our old lines after bitter fighting at Poeghberg. There is lively artillery firing on the v-e.st bank of tho Meuee and between the Meuse and the Moselle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ANOTHER BIG AIR RAID ON ENEMY'S COAST LINE (Rec. July 17, 9.25 p.m.) London, July ]|j. The Admiralty reports: "Our naval aeroplanes last night dropped several tons of bombs on tho Solway works, tho Zeebruggc railway junctions and sidings, the Ostend sidings, tho dumps at Middlekerko, the railway junction at Thorout, motor-transport convoys,, and railway sidings at Lichtervclde. All returned safely."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-llcutor.

NEW KNIGHTHOOD FOR SIR DOUGLAS HAIG

.. . . „. , ■, . , ' London, July tfi. Sir Douglas Rni,? has been appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router.