FRENCH SUCCESSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1917, Page 5

FRENCH SUCCESSES.

NINETEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS, Reoeived April 22, 5.5 p, m , London, April 21, A'French communique states that between St. Queutin and the Oise there is great reciprocal artillery activity, particularly north of (Jouzos, and south oi the Oise, the day being quiet north of the Oise. Harassing the enemy continues to progress in the direction of Chemins-des-Dnmes.

We occupied Saucy alter violent artillery preparation. The Germans at eventide ittacked With huge effectives fu the region or Ailles sur Tuloi.se, but Mir lire shattered them completely mid repulsed ~e, attack. An artillery duel continues with great energy hero.

In the Champagne we captured several important strong points in Horonvillers and Massif, notwithstanding desperate enemy resistance. Since April 1G we have made prisoners of 19,000 men and have captured over one hundred guns. Between Soissons and Auberivc, in the Argonne. after a ehayp ttction, our detachment penetrated far into the second German trench, t-

Received April 22, 5.5 p.m. London, April 21, A Frencli communique states: North of the Aisne, an artillery duel took place in tlie regions of ilauteuill-a-Fosse, Santcbisc. east of Craonne and north of RJieims. The night was marked by violent mutual artille.rying. \v> progressed here, notably south of Juvincourt and east of Courcy. In the Champagne we repulsed an attack against Monthatun,

RUSSIANS WILL STRIKE SOON. RUSSIAN CONGRATULATIONS. Paris, April 21. General Alexieff has telegraphed to General Nivelle congratulating him. on his successes, and promising that the Russian army 'will soon strike again. VILLAGE CAPTURED.

RECIPROCAL ARTILLERYING. London, April 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports that after sharp fighting we captured Gonnelieu village and repulsed an attempted rain in the neighborhood of Fauquissart. .There was reciprocal artillerying in a number of places.

GERMAN BOMBAST. "MASTERS OP THE ' SITUATION." . . , (London, April 20. A wireless German official report says that firing activity increases daily on the Arras battlefield. The occupation of the fortifiod zones on the SiegefriedHindenburg position,' which have been a long time under construction, began on March IB and terminated yesterday by abandonment of the Aisne bank between Conde and Soupir. The enemy follows hesitatingly. The kittle of the Aisne and Champagne continue normally with strong artillery work on the Chemis des Dames Ridget Strong French attacks neai Braya aud Ccrny on both sides of the Craonno failed. The French yesterday made a renewed attempt to outflank the Brimont posiI tion. The French storming waves on the Aisne-Marne Canal five times broke down sanguinarily. We are masters of the situation there. There is day-long fighting in the Champagne wooded region between Thuimiy, the Nauroy Road and Auberiv, which latter we voluntarily evacuated. Our counter-attack pressed tack the enemy and we reached our <f. jvCiive. Thus the second French at.t 6 -I-t to break through in the Cham?aga was frustrated. The French have so far used more fhfir thirty divisions on both battlefields. fco French attempt to recapture positions lost on April 7, failed, but they again gained a footing on the summit. LAGINCOURT. A MEMORABLE DAY. AUSTRALIANS IN THEIR ELEMENT. London, April 20. An Australian artillery officer gives a vivid description of the liveliness on- the west front, in which the Australian* itre revellicg.

"Our boys," he says, "were neve? iy better fettle. The staff always realised that Australians are at their best in an offensive. Lagincourt was a memorable day. Although the Australians suffered heavily under the first attack, which was delivered at unprecedented pressure, they got their own back when they advanced under cover of artillery fire. The crowning moment was wliea they cut off the Prussians and shot them at point blank range. later they pujl up a notice, 'We are ready for the rest of the Guards. Send them aJlong,' but the Germans did not respond. The Australian howitzer's hardly had timo to cool. The guns were firing five shots per minute continuously for nine hours. At the hottest period the German artillery became demoralised, and repifea feebly. All former British bombardments were as mothing compared with the present. We never hoar the report of a single gun, only a constant roar, which gets on one's nerves. But we wouldn't miss fighting these days. We have got Fritz beaten and he lenows it. the prisoners are mere wrecks. The only feeling they are capable of is relief that the horrible ordeal is over."