FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1918, Page 2

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

[PEB rr.ESS ASSOCIATION. COFYBIeHT.I

FRENCH RErORT. LONDON, May 31. ; A French communique states: —The enemy lias continued his efforts on his right* as far north ns the river Oise, by means of violent attacks. In the region of Ailette, wo fell back, fighting, to positions on the north of the Blerancourfc-lvpargny line. In the region of Soissons and further south, the enemy attacks were smashed against tlie heroic resistance of our troops, who have maintained their positions at the western entrance to t town of Soissons, and southwards along the road to Chateau Thierry. In the centre, the enemy has succeeded in slightly advancing. In the region north .of the Marne, and further east, and also north-west, all the enemy’s efforts wore fruitless. ! An energetic counter-attack, lias enabled us to retako Tliillois.

FRENCH OPERATIONS. LONDON, June 2. A French communique says the day teas marked by a series of powerful German attacks on the whole front, between the Oise and Marne. Me only gave up certain points before still superior forces, whereon heavy losses were inflicted. . ... Between the Oise and Aistie we carried back our positions to the northern outskirts of C'arlepent Wood, on tho heights west of Andignicourt to ronto no y. All enemy attempts west and south of Soissons, to the north of Vierzv, were futile. The battle further south was violent on both sides Ol the Burcq. The enemy holds Cliotiy, Neuillv, and St. Font. We continue fighting on a line irom Villers, Thelon. Nouroy, Tried, Monthiers and Repilly. We hold Chateau Thierry. The situation north ot tne Marne is unchanged.

GERMANS REACH VERNUIL. London, June i.* # The Germans on the Marne front, have reached Vernuil. 'fhe Germans are fighting furiously to enlarge the' salient between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. French counter-attacks recovered the lost ground.

' RHEIMS POSITION HELD. 1 LONDN, June 2. ' The French communique says despite constant enemy pressure on our righ , we practically maintained our positions in the region of. Dormans-Rheims road, practically north of Ville Etardemers The situation north-west north ot Rheims is unchanged. . Violent enemy attacks south-west ot Rheims supported by tanks, momentarily seized Pomelle Fort, on the Railway." An immediate counter-attack recaptured the fort and restored the positions. s '- , . Twentv-thero. enemy machines were . i , * i . i i* Ami u-or/i rvfVrllV

brought down and fourteen were oactiy damaged in the fighting on Friday. Our scouts reconnoitred enemy movements, day and night, our squadrons machine-gunning marching German troops and inflicting heavy losses. Bombing squadrons, day and on Friday dropped sixty-six tons of projectiles on troops, convoys, stations, and aerodromes. FRENCH COUNTER ATTACKS. LONDON, June 1. ' A French communique states:—The enemy’s drive was continued yesterday.

'Powards the close of the' day ana curing the night it was redoubled with violence on the front between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. In the region of Soissons and on the Chaiulon-Vicrzy line, our troops continued to make counter-attacks with tireless energy and drove back the enemy masses, which had been hurled against this front. The French gained ground everywhere, and have taken hundreds of prisoners. South of Soissons, the enemy wan driven back on Ci'ise. Further south, after obstinate fighting, Chaudiii and Viorzy were captured and lost several times, but remained in our hands. The. battle is no less violent inthe region. of-Chouy and Nenuilly. Our 'lmnnH smashed the enemv’s attacks and

troops smasneu wie enemy » unni-nn .mw maintained the line immediately oast oi these localities. On the northern bank of tho Marne the enemy has pushed his advance ele-

who suffered heavy losses. The enemy was unable to progress on this side.

'the enemy, however, has succeeded in gaining 1 ground west of Soissons also on tlio Chateau Thierry road, and toward that town, passing beyond Childly lav ille and Ouchyla Chateau.

In the centra some Gorman elements have reached the north bank, of the Marne, between Chaters and Jaulgonne. iThe situation is unchanged on our right, and also north-west and north of Rheims.

A SUCCESS CLAIMED. 1 LONDON, Juno 1. A French official report states the. in the region of Soipsons, Oise, Chaudin and Vierzy our untiring counter-attacks gained ground everywhere. We took several hundred prisoners. FRENCH GAIN GROUND. - CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS. This Dav si f 1.50 am' LONDON, June 3. The French continue to-gain ground between the Oureq and the Marne rivers. They have captured hundreds of prisoners.

COUNTER-ATTACKS PENDING. (Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 3. The French press believes the Allied counter-offensive is pending. .. _ RESISTANCE INCREASING. LONDON, June 3. A 1.30 p.m. report states the ’French resistance is hourly increasing along the Oise.. Oureq and Marne valleys, while German progress is decreasing.

ments from the northern and eastern edges of Chateau Thierry ns far as Verniel on our right. There has been very lively engagements on the road from Dormas uRheims. The situation north-east and north of Rheims is unchanged. 'ENEMY ADVANCE IN PLACES. LONDON, June 1. A French communique states "that- on our left in" the region of lofrer Ailette. the Germans have continued the pressure. We broke all enemy attacks in the region of Bleraucourt and west thereof. An enemy attack which succeeded in ■crossing the Oise east of Sampigny, was thrown back to the’ right bank. The enemy efforts have chiefly been made in the sector of Soissons and further south in the direction of the Nevilles front. To the westward of Soissons, we have vigorously counter-attacked ond have stopped .all the attempts of the enemy,