WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

1 GREAT FRENCH SUCCESS. CAPTURE OF CHEMIN DES DAMES. AFTER SIX MONTHS* STRUGGLE. GERMAN POSITIONS OCCUPIED. Aus. and N.Z. Cabin Assoc, and Renter. Received Nov. 4, f1.5 p.m., London, Nov. 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been great mutual artillerying and aerial activity. It i 9 drizzling weather. A French communique Btates: The results of our victory at Malmaison are not slow in showing themselves. Threatened on the right, pressed by our infantry, crushed by our artillery, which increasingly bombarded his organisation south of the Ailette from our new positions, the enemy was compelled to abandon the Chemin des Dames, to which he has been clinging for the pa*st six months, on a front -of twenty kilometres, from Froidmont farm to the post east of Craonne. Our troops, descending the northern slopes of the Chemin des Dames, occupied the Germans positions to a depth exceeding a kilometre at certain places. The villages of Courtecon, Cerny-en-Laonnois, Ailles, and Chevreux are in our hands. Our patrols, keeping in contact with the enemy, reached the Ailette between Biaye-e'n-Laonne and Cerny.

ADVAMCE CONTINUED,

EXTENSIVE CAPTURES OP GUNS. Aus and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. London, Nov. 3, A French communique states: During the'night we made a continual advance between the Disc canal'and the region of Courany, and reached the southern bank of the Ailette along the entire front. The enemy fell back on > the northern front, the bridges and passages whereto had been cut. The artillery struggle was continued, being lively in the sector, at Chcvignon, and at some points in the region of the plateaux. Among the material captured-since October 23 are 200 heavy and field guns, 222 trehcli guns, and 720 machinc-glins. Violent artillerying continues on the right of the Meuse. During the last ten days of October 51 enemy aeroplanes were brought down.