FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1918, Page 3

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

'PEH PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

THE FRENCH FRONT

ENEMY FORCED BACK,

LONDON, October 6

Ain evening French. communique states: North of St. Quentin fighting has continued, with undiminished violence. We have thrown back tho enemy who is defending himself foot by foot from a height situated, twelve hundred metres south-west of Ciiardonvert and from neighbouring woods. North-west of Reims we are again exercising vigorous pressure along the whole front of the Aisne canal which wo crossed in several places, and wo advanced as far as the outskirts of Bromericourt. Tho number of prisoners counted in, the post five days exceeds 2,500. We have taken thirty-one guns, including twenty heavies, wherof five are 200 millimetre pieces.

Lively attacks wore made hv the Franco-American in the Champagne, and their advance yesterday in tho direction of Arnes has forced the enemy who is threatened with having his left turned, t 0 evacuate precipitately the eastern part of the mountain region. Our troops on the western sector of the Suippe are on the heels of the enemy rearguards and have reached heights eight hundred kilometres southeast of Moronvillers.

.South of Monthois, we have smashed a counter attack against Croix des Sour Dans, retaining all our gains.

The Germans who have been heavily reinforced, are disputing the ground along tho entire Orfouil-Monthois front with extreme obstinacy. The French have substantially advanced south of the Aisne river, clearing the whole area between the Aisne and Vesle rivers .

The French als 0 subsequently advanced in the western Argonne, capturing Orfeuil and Mont Blanc, which is a high hill of considerable tactical imrniles in this sector since the 26th September.

FRENCH OPER ATKINS,

LONDON. Oct. 6

A French communique states our pursuit continued all night long on the Suippe front. On the left our troops, after crossing the Aisne canal in the region of Sapigneul, reached the neiglibourood of Agvilcourt". Further eastward we are approaching Aumenan-court-lc-Petit. The massif of Norpnteabes is in our possession and our troops passed considerably beyond it. We are progressing on a general line northward of Epoye. On the right wo occupy tho village of Pont Taverger on the Suippe. On the Arnos our advanced troops reaced the wooded crest northward of the river. Several hundred were prisonered yesterday, and during the night southward of the Ailette. Italian troops operating in tho region of Ostol Soupir, after previously capturing important points, d’Appur of Lacourt, Soupirdesout and part of this village, yesterday engnged in severe fighting on the plntenu to the northeast. They carried by assault, stubborn hv held trenches on the heights of la Croix Antitc and Metz farm. Northward of St. Ouontin, fighting was continued with the same bitterness. .. In the region of Lesdins we made a fresh advance eastward of that locality.

IMPORTANT SUCCESS. LONDON, October 17

This morning a French official report states: We have taken Aemancourt, and several hundred prisoners. We also forced the river Suippe, cast of Orainville and aro still progressing The enemy is retiring in disorder.

* FRENCH PROGRESS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The High Commissioner reports from London on Oct. 7th at 3.40 a.m.: French Official. —We have taken I Remancourt (north-east of St. Quentin) and several hundred prisoners. We have also crossed tho Suippe east of Oruinville (north of Rheims) and are still progressing. The enemy are retiring in disorder.

FRENCH PROGRESS.

IN RIIEIMS SALIENT. (AUSTRALIAN »fc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received This Dav at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7, A French communique reports north of St. Quentin tho battle was continued all day. We recaptured Ramancourt,

Tilloy farm and several fortified woods between Morcourt and Sequehnrt. The ouem.v resisted furiously hut failed to arrest the advance of our troops who conquered the ground foot by foot, taking several hundred prisoners.

North of Rliefms we reached the Suippe at numerous points. German rearguards on the south bank resisted violently, counter-attacking several times. We drove them back inflicting sanguinary losses. We hold the southern outskirts of Agutoourt and village of Berlricourt, north of the Suippe. We forced a passage east of Orainville and captured Fontabern cemetery.

There was equally severe fighting in the region of Bnzancourt, Coult-sur-Suippe, which resulted in our reaching the outskirts of these localities. We debouched from Bethanville in face of violent artillerying and machine-gun-ning, and gained ground also north of St. Clement. On the Arnes our troops in this region endured unflinchingly the severest counter-attacks. Our artillery, firing with open nights, mowed down enemy battalions. The enemy was compelled to retreat in disorder.

The fighting to-day compelled deliverance of Rheims.

Despite unfavourable weather our aviators dropped 13. V tons of bombs on concentrations of tvoops, convoys and batteries, silencing the latter. Twentyone enemy machines were felled.

FRENCH CAPTURES. Hmqved this day nf 2.36 p.m.,) PARIS, October 7th. Tho “Echo de Paris” announces that French troops in Bulgaria compelled the surrender of the Eleventh German Division, the surrenderors including a general and two Brigadeers.