WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1918, Page 6

WESTERN FRONT.

HARD FIGHTING, IMPORTANT GAINS BY FRANCOAMERICANS. * " . „ , London, Oct. 5 A *rench communique states: North Quentin we actively participated m a hard battle in the Hindenburg position. We captured Chardouvert, south of Sequehart, and several fortified woods further south. We gained a footing m Leadine and captured Morcourt. The enemy had furiously and repeatedly counter-attacked, but all his efforts were shattered with heavy loss. We captured prisoners, also four heavy guns. The Franco-Americans, in the Champagne, gained an important advantage which completed yesterday's success. On the left, we pushed over four kilometres north-west of Somme Py to the river Arne, and captured the villages of Pau des ine Ourc, Douhien, Strotauplet., and the Grand Bellois Woods, despite resistance.

Farther east we reached the outskirts of Stettienneaarnes, and gained a footing on the plateau of Orfeuil, capturing Orfeuil village. We evacuated Challerange, which neither side holds, being intensely shelled by both artilleries.

lavorable weather facilitated aviation on Thursday. Nineteen, enemy aeroplanes were felled and three balloons set on fire. Our scouts pushed far into the enemy lines. Fifty-one tons of bombs were dropped on enemy reserves which were massed with a view to a counterattack. On one sector our aeroplanes agbin fed the advanced troops. Five tons of food and cartridges wer<* thus supplied. Twenty-nine tons of projectiles were dropped at night on enemy bivoacs and cantonments on a wide front.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

London, Oct. 4 An American communique states: — This morning we resumed an attack westward of the Meuse and overcame stubbon resistance and advanced our lines from two to five, kilometres. We carried Hill 240, northward from Ermon and took the villages of Gesnes, Sleville and Chehery La Forge. Despite heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, we 'forced the enemy back to the Kriemhalde positions, southward of Bois De Foret.

GERMAN OFFICIAL. London, October 4. Wireless German official: The enemy captured Le Catalot and advanced as far as Beaurevoir and Mont Bressian and also penetrated Sequetart. We drove back the enemy on both sides of Le Catalet, beyond his starting positions, recapturing Beaurevoir and Montf Bressain Sequetart remains in the enemy's hands. Small French nests remain in the Wiesenbarg-liedeah heights, near Ommepv. We captured Challerainge.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.