WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 April 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

17,000 PRISONERS. BRILLIANT VICTORIES BY FRENCH GREAT HAUL OF GUNS. 1300 GERMANS LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. LONDON, April 19. French communique.—South of St. Quentin, after, very lively bombardment the Germans attacked east of Gouchy, Their first attempt was stopped dead bj' our fire. The second, which was more violent, resulted in fractions of the enemy penetrating our advanced trenches, but these were all killed or captured by an immediate counter-at-tack, Our line was completely restored. Wo vigorously continued the offensive at various points between Soissons and Auberive. Despite persistent bad weather, the operations cn our nest attacking front were brilliantly successful North of the Navonne we captured I'ie village of Ostal and drove back the enemy a kilometre northwards. We captured Braye en Laqhncis and all-the grohnd eastwards to the vicinity Of Courtetron. Under vigorous pressure of the infantry And murderous fire of 'of the artillery, the enemy fled in disorder, 'abandoning much material and depots of food. We captured nineteen guns, including five howitzers, south of Laffaux. Our flroops,. covered by divisional cavalry, broke up the enemy and captured Nanteuilenposse. Finally, south of the Aisne, by a spirited attack they captured the bridgehead between Conde and Yailly. An important unit was surrounded in the Forrest of Yilleaubis and laid down their arms, totalling 1300 prisoners.

The Germans in the afternoon furiously counter-attached with two divisions between 1 Juvincourt (east of Craonne) ad the Aisne. Our barrages and machine-gun fire shattered the attack and inflicted sanguinary losses on the enemy, i who were nowhere able to approach our lines.; East of Courcy the Russian brigade crowned their successes by capturing a fortified work and taking prisoners. We took 24 heavy and field guns in this region, including three five-inchers, each with a thousand rounds, which wore immediately employed against the enemy.

We reduced several centres of rcsistnee and captured strong points in Champagne, where twenty guns were taken, including eight heavies.

The number of unwounded prisoners taken since the opening of the battle exceeds 17,000, while 75 guns have so far. been counted.

BRITISH GAIN FURTHER GROUND

LONDON, April 18,

Sir Douglas Haig reports: We gained ground during the night on the loft bank of the Scarpe eastward of Earnpouz.

We captured this morning a further portion of the front line system southeast of Loos. A FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, April 19. The High Commission en cables: — French official. —South and southwest of St. Quentin there is great mutual artillerying and patrol encounters on the borders of the high forrest of Coney. Between the Aisne and Chimin des Dames we progressed ’northwards to Yailly Ostal. The enemy attack in the region of Corticon was arrested by our machine guns. The Germans yesterday violently attacked the Plateau Vaucliro, but were mown down by our fire waves. The assault was thrown back and unable to reach our lines. Our attacks were successful everywhere. GREAT CAPTURE OF GUNS. LONDON, April 19. A headquarters’ correspondent says: We captured at least 230 guns out of GOO on the front attacked.