WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1918, Page 8

WESTERN FRONT.

ON THE AISNE SECTOR. I'TiENOH OVERCOME DESPERATE RESISTANCE. . „ , London, Sept. 29. A i'rench communique says: Our repeated attacks on the plateaux north of the Aisne finally forced the enemy to retire towards the Ailette. Pursuing the German rearguards east of the Aisne at Allemant and Jouy, we occupied the village and southern outskirts of the [forest of Pinon, and captured Vaudesson, Chavignon, and Fort Malmaison Further south we processed considerably on the plateau north of Saillv Germans in Champagne furioiislv counter-attacked on our right. Desperate no]'tmg is proceeding in the Bouconville region and on the heights gouth of Gratreuil. Our troops in the centre and on the left continued to pro"res<; particularly north of the Challerange railway. We captured Manre and reached the eastern outskirts of Ste. Marie-a-Py Our losses were slight.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

BELGIAN SUCCESS AT DIXMUDE, HOULTHHULST FOREST CAPTURED. London, Sept. 29. A Belgian communique states: At dawn on the 28th, the Belgian wing attacked the German positions between Dixmude and north of Yprcs. The attack began after a violent artillery preparation lasting some hours, in which there participated in co-operation with the Belgian batteries numerous French and British batteries, as well as British airships, which bombarded the coast defences of the enemy and vulnerable points of his communications.

After the preparation our infantry moved forward to attack the strongly organised German positions, vieing with each other in courage. Our troops carried all the organisations of the defensive lines of the enemy's front position and .passed on without a stop to attack the second strongly organised position. In spite of the enemy's resistance and vain counter-attacks which were launched, particularly astride the railway to Staden, our infantry captured practically the whole of the Houlthulst forest zone,' which the Germans had strongly fortified during the last four years, and nil the ground extending to the line marked by localities Woumen, Dierkcnshoek, Schaepe Baillie,' and Broodseynde. An advance was made of about six kilometres. Numerous prisoners were brought in, the total for the Belgians being 4000. The guns have not yet been counted, but they include a complete battery and crew, as well as Sims of very large calibre, and considerable material was captured. The number of Gennan dead lying on the field of battle gives evidence of the enemy's losses.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. atd Reuter.