The French have had a week of very heavy fighting
on the heights north of the Aisne. The enemy, after repeated attacks on Friday week and Saturday last, gained ground near Cerny, in the centre of the Chemin dee Dames, but they were thrown back by a French counter.attack on Sunday and failed to retrieve the lees on Monday. Finally, on Tuesday night the Crown Prince delivered a fierce attack on the whole sector from Jouy to Craonne, eleven miles long, and was completely repulsed with exceptionally heavy losses. At the same time, doubtless by way of a diversion, the enemy resumed his activity on the Verdun lines, and on the night of Friday week, after several failures, gained ground on the western slopes of the blood- soaked Mort loosens. He was unable to develop his advantage.
The fierceness of the fighting is illustrated by the struggle for • French advanced post, which was lost and recovered five times, and was then abandoned by both sides because it had been completely destroyed by the bombardment. Evidently the Germans hoped during the lull on our front to deal the French a crushing blow, but one more effort has Msearried.
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