A SPLENDID START.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1917, Page 5

A SPLENDID START.

10,000 PRISONERS ALREADY. S~ - VALOROUS TROOPS \ Received April 17, 0.45 p.m. London, April IT, 9.45 a.m. I A French official message states:— South of the Oise we made new progress on the plateau east of the line Barisis, Qujncy and Basse, between Soissons and Rheims. After artillery preparation lasting several days, we attacked this morning on a front of 25 miles. A fierce liattle ensued on the whole front, the enemy having important forces and numerous artillery everywhere. The valor of our troops overcame an energetic defence, between Soissons and Cramonne, and- the whole of the German first line fell into our hands. East of Cramonne wo captured a second' enemy position, and south of Juvincourt wo pushed our line to the western boundaries of Bermiricourt, to the Aisne Canal, and from Chivre to Couraey. Violent counter-attacks were repeatedly delivered north of Villraubois, but were broken 'hy our lire with considerable enemy losses. The total prisoners taken hy us and counted exceeds 10,000, also important material, which has not been estimated.