FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1918, Page 2

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] FRENCH REPORT. LONDON, Aug. 23. A French communique reports yesterday we several times caught retreating enemy under machine-gun. fire in tho region of Lassigny and between the Oise and Aisne. M r e dropped during the day thirty-four tons, of bombs in the region of C’hauny, Margival, Vnux Aillonauizy, Lochabenn, and during tho night dropped twentyeight tons on railway stations at Tliioiiville, Conflans, Mezieres, and also in the battle zone. Numerous bursts on objectives, and fires were observed on stations at Conflansham, Guescarda, Chauuy, Thionvillo, Thirncourt and Pontavert. Last evening tho Germans bombed Dunkirk with shells of great calibre. Seven civilians wore killed and one ITijured. During the day we continued progress on the whole battle front between the Matz and Oise. We are skirting the Ailette from its mouth to Evrieourt. East of the Oise we carried lines to the outskirts of Querzy between the Ailette and Aisne. Me captured St. Aubin, Selens, Bagneux, Epigney, Bictixy, Vaurezis, and Pominieres. The enemy abandoned great material between the Aisne, Oise and Avfre. Two hundred guns 'were counted since the 21st Aug.

FRENCH OPERATIONS. • GREAT CAPTURES MADE. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, August 23. French Headquarters, reporting on the evening of the 22nd, states that the pursuit continued tlio whole afternoon and evening.

Yesterday we reached tho Oise at Sompigny, just as the bridges were blown up, but the destruction is incomplete further south, as wo are occupying Petit Manias. The enemy began to retreat in disorder by numerous trains which were on tho other side of the Oise and wen? seen hurrying northward. Throughout the afternoon the enemy rearguards fought their fiercest to save important material, hut vainly. Our troops at the close of the evening, advanced other regiments following collected a huge quantity of material comprising heavy guns and machine guns.

Our artillery and cavalry pushed ahead. It was soon noticeable that the enemy resistance was chiefly by machino Iguns, diminishing nevertheless. Desperate fighting took place at certain points, notably from : St; Aubin to north of Hill 140, where we arc fighting with bombs. Batcjhes of prisoners arrived all night long. It is impossible to count them as there are at least several thousands. The enemy considers that the positi«n of his first line divisions arc precarious. He rests his hopes on the second lin<t of divisions, which are echeloned in depth, and have been ordered to resist at all costs. Our advance continued this morning towards Ailette, through the enemy's broken front.

ACROSS THE AILETTK. (Received Yesterday at 11.10. p.m.) PARIS, August 24. French patrols arc across the Ailette river at some points. FRENCH REPORT. LONDON, August 23. A French communique states that during the night, there has been a vi'olenT bombardment between Beuvraignes and the Oise, notably at Le riemont, Passelcliary and Ouichamps. We hold the southern banks of the Oise and Odette from Sempigny as far as the railway from Couroy Le Chateau to eastward of Selens. We carried our line forward to th© outskirts of Guny and Pont St Maic. The night elsewhere was calm.

A QUIET NIGHT. fAUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] A REUTER.] j (Received this day ht 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 24. A French communique states in the region of Lnssignv and between the Oise and Aisne the night was mfirked by fairly active artillerying. Our detachments penetrated several points of the enemy trenches in Lorraine and brought back prisoners. The night was quiet on the rest of the front.