FRENCH CONFIDENCE UNIMPAIRED.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1918, Page 5

FRENCH CONFIDENCE UNIMPAIRED.

, ONE BRITISH ARMY BEGAN TO YIELD. RESERVES SOON ESTABLISHED LINE. OPEN WARFARE GIVES OPPORTUNITIES. Received March 28. 5.15 p.m London, March 27. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that the confidence of the French as to the favorable issue of the momentous battle is unshaken. It is now known that one of the British armies began to yield, despite the marvelloiis bravery, under pressure of the German avalanche, and left a momentary break in the lines, but the Germans were unable to drive a wedge in. The arrival of British reinforcements preserved the continuity of the Allied front.

At another critical point the English and French were fighting shoulder o shoulder and crushed all the enemy's desperate attempts to make a breach in the lines.

Open warfare has come, with all its opportunities of strategy and manoeuvre. The English and French reserves are rejuly to intervene at the proper juncture.

The French are heroically fighting in the C'haung and Oise region. They are not only containing the enemy, but making frequent counter-attacks. The United Press correspondent says the British are holding the line westward of Albert-

, The struggle has now begun to offer certain advantages to the British, who have good communications behind them, the wooded hills and valleys and the houses of the villages and towns offering screens., The fighting was heavy between the converging of the Ancre and the Soinme, and hottest around Meailltc, southward of Albert. A fierce attack was driven off in the afirnoon against Auchonvillere, northward of Albert, while north-westward at Colincamps an entire German patrol was taken prisonerThe enemv this morning began attacking Avelny wood.