GREAT FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1917, Page 1

GREAT FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Successfully Started 10 000 Prisoners. LONDON, April 16. British headquarters report that the news that the great French offensive had started this morning ran tlirougn our army like wild fire, and evoked the greatest enthusiasm.-. The correspondent states that the captured six-inch naval gun mentioned in the communiques is now being employed effectively against the Germans. Other booty included great quantities of eight-inch shells, bombs, high explosives and steel rails.

FRENCH SUGUESS. Bn 30 ftlile Front (Aueft alien & N.Z. Cuble Association aud Ranter.) LONDON, April 17. lA Frcncli communique reports:—Between St. Quentin and the Oise artillery lighting has continued. South of the Oise we made fresh progress on the plateau east of the line between Barisis Quincy and Basse. After an artillery preparation lasting for several days we attacked this morning between Soisons and Khcinis the German lines on a front of about forty kilometres. A desperate battle ensued on tjie whole front where the enemy had collected the largest forces and numerou* guns. Everywhere tlio French overcame the vigorous defence and carried the first German position between Soissons and Oraonne. Ea st of Craonne wo carried the second German positions south of JuvrinCGiirt. Further south we carried the line «s far as the western outskirts of Bonnericourt, and as far as thd Aisne canal between Oivre and Courey. Repeated violent eounter-attacics north of Villeambois were broken tjy our firo with considerable enemy losses. The prisoners so far counted exceed ten thousand, and we also capturcu « considerable quantity of material from the enemy. Fighting continues hi Champagne, and there is an intermittent cannonade on the rest of the front. Haig’s Report LONDON, April to. Sir Douglas Haig reports that we have taken upwards of fourteen thousand prisoners, and captured 19-1 guns since the morning of April 9th. There has been heavy rain alt riie afternoon, and there is nothing of special interest to report. UtTinan Report A Bitter Fight. , LONDON, (April 1?. A wireless German official message says:—There has been little fighting ««• Arras. A great French attempt with tne far distant object to break through on the Aisue commenced after ten days’ of massed firo. A bitter light is proceeding around our foremost position. The frontal attack is 40 kilometres wide.