The sun., 1918-07-15
FRENCH REGAIN
LOST POSITIONS
Drive a Mile Deeper on Two
Mile Front Between Long
pont and COurcy.
ONE SHELL KILLS 13 FOES
Entire German Company Part
Of 1000 Captives Taken in
Nibbling Offensive.
ONE SHELL KILLS 13 FOES
ny GERALD CAMPBELL.


Special Gable Despatch TO THE srS from the
London Times.
Copyright, 1915: oil rights reserved
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY. July H.
For the last few days French troops.
holding the eastern fringe OF the forest
Of Retz. continuously have harassed the
enemy on the two mile front between
Longpont and Courcy and a further dis
tance OF another two miles north and
south of the two villages. until at last
yesterday and to-day they had driven
the Germans back across the Savieres.
which flows from north to south into the
Ourc near Troesnes. and have gained a
footing on the eastern side of the river
at Catifet farm. south of Longpont.
By this advance the French have
driven the Germans out of positions
they captured on June 12 on the heights
west OF the two villages and have de-
prvei them of valuable jumping on
ground Tor penetrating the forest and
resu.n,rg the Offensive. The operations
began on the morning of July s, some
hours after the enemy had expected to
be attacked. and seem to have taken
them completely by surprise, so much so
| that the troops of the division attacked,
| which had been held in readiness during
;he night in battle order. had fallen out
and returned to quarters. In quarry
where they were sheltered from the
French barrage almost a whole com
pany. which had been engaged in in
trenchment work, were taken in one
haul
tta
French artillery, one shell killing thirteen
men in a dugout
ChnNiRny Farm Retaken.
In the evening Chavigny farm, north
| west OF Longpont. was taken with more
| than 400 prisoners. BY this action the
| French lines were advanced more than
mile over a front OF two miles. The
next day further progress was made
northeast Of ChaviEny. on the tenth a
part OF the village OF Corey was taken
and on the eleventh we occupied Long
pont and two important farms further
south. The Germans were obliged to
| fall back to the east side Of the river
yesterday and were followed by the
| French.
The whole fighting in this district has
been carried on with great vigor and
without any preoCCupat!on as TO the pos
| sible imminence Of an enemy offensive
| here or elsewhere. Instead of adopting
the policy of wait and see" the French
have kept the enemy continually on the
/ move with the most satisfactory results
so far ms any particular locality is CON
cerned and have thrown any plans the
Germans may have had into disorder
1000 Germans Captured.
A similar local attack on n front ot
three miles north OF Montdidler on Fri
day between Castel Mailly and Raineva
resulted in another advance OF n mile
and the capture OF 500 prisoners, severa
important positions, including the village
OF Castel. Anchin farm, which overook'
the road from Moreuilto Ally and Rouv
rel, the plateau commanding the distric
between Avre and Noye through which
runs the railroad line from Parts u
| Amians
Both here and on the borders Of tn,
Forest OF Retz the operations, which
| brought In a total OF almost 1000 pris
oners. were carried out with small cos
and brilliantly justified the active policy
OF defending by attack.