CAPTURED GUNS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1917, Page 1

CAPTURED GUNS.

FreriCn Prisoners

Now Total 17,000,

(Australiap & N.Z. Cable Assr-ciafion and Reuter.)

PAULS, April 19. An official French communique reports : —Wo captured 19 guns, including five howitzers south of Laffaux. Our troops, covered by divisional cavalry, broke up tho enemy and captured Nantevilenposse, and finally south of .the Aisne in a spirited attack captured the bridgehead between Condo valley'and the whole of Vailly. An important unit, which was surrounded in a- forest at Villaubis, lam down tlieir arms, totalling thirteen hundred prisoners.

The Germans in the afternoon furiously counter attacked with two divisions between Juvencourt and the Aisne. our barrages machine-gun fire sha.twued tlio attack and inflicted sanguinary losses on the enemy, who were nowhere able fio approach our lines. East of C«ury the Russian Brigade crowned their successes by capturing a fortified work and taking prisoners. Wo took 24 heavy guns and neiuguns in good order in this region, and three five inches each with one thousand rounds of ammunition and they were immediately cployecl against rue enemy.

We reduced several centres of resistance and captured strong points in Champagne where we also took twentyguns which included 8 heavy, The number of unwounded prisoners taken since the opening of the battle now exceeds 17,000' and twenty-five guns.