PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3035, 23 March 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The probability disoussed yesterday of the German retirement being extended in Northern Franco beyond Arras—which now seems to be approximately the northernmost limit of the swing back of the enomy line—finds somo confirmation to-day in one of our messages from France.' The correspondent in question records that explosions nave been heard from the direction of Lens, iust ovar the line of defencos formed by the Germans two and a half years ago, at Carvin, towards the north-east and tori miles away, and at Douai, fifteen miles from tho old line and some twelve miles south-east of Lens. These explosions are taken to be the destruction of German fortifications, and it is suggested that they foreshadow a German retirement in this quarter. Turther support for this idea is to be found in the report that the German heavy artillery in this region has been moved back in the direction of Lille. .

Those who have followed the war cables at all closely will also no doitbt hare been, struok by the remarkable trench raiding activity which has been recorded on this part of the line for some time past. These raiding expeditions have been more frequent here in recent weeks than on any other part of the British front, and we may be certain that there was some reason for this. They have not been on one side only, for the Germans have indulged in quite a number of attempts to visit our front lines. These raids have been prompted probably_ by a belief on the part of the British Command that something was afoot on the enemy side of the line; or they may also have '■ been in the nature of a prelude' to a move on a big scale. The enemy would be equally anxious to know what was going on on our side, and also, if a retreat was being contemplated, to cover up the design by an appearance of aggressiveness. In any case there are a good many things that have happened and are happening that lend colour to the suspicion that in the sector north of Arras, as well as south of it, we ma.y look for big happenings at an early date. The Germans are boasting now that their retreat ,on the Somme front was carried out without our knowledge. Certainly the earlier,"part of the retreat, which occurred during foggy weather when aerial observation was impossible,, seems to have progressed to some extent before its nature was fully realised by the Allied commanders, but it is a little early yet to talk. Tho Allied strategy which compelled the retreat on the Sotnmo is only beginning to show its results —we may be certain that the successes already gained are but the first fruits of what is the biggest move since the battle of the Marne. * ' • # *

Meanwhile the position on the Somme front is opening up, and the gap along which the Allied forces are advancing is widening and deepening. Sie Douglas Haig's record of progress during the past 24 hours discloses the fact that the British fprces are keeping in touch' with the enemy's rearguard in tho direction of Croisilles, where a sharp engagement has been fought. Croisilles is a manufacturing town about the same size as Bapaume, about ten or twelve, miles from' Monchy, which is the most northerly point of the beginning of the German retreat, and lies almost due west from Cambrai, in the outskirts of which important centre much destruction of property has been observed. From a German general order discovered it_ appears that it is part of the policy of the High Command to leave little of value in the wake of the German army, and from the accounts reaching us there is ample evidence that the enemy is executing this order with ruthless barbarity. Here and there, however, some tokens are left which rather discount the bombastic claims of the German High Command that tho retreat has been carried out as though at peace manoeuvres. For - instance, at Achiet-le-Grand much store of ammunition has been discovered. The entire absence of artillery fire from the enemy shows that the enemy's heavy guns have been carried speedily away, and aro evidently far beyond the rearguard which our cavalry and troops are harassing Having regard to the difficulties in the path of our troops, the, mined roads and broken bridges, the progress made is remarkably rapid. So much so, in fact, that the rearguards of the enemy ?ire now compelled to fight desperately in an endeavour 'to gaio the time necessary for the .Mir: body to' roach the positions where tho next stand is to bo ma«M. It is towards Cambrai and St. Qusulin [that the pursuit of the-enemy is being moat seriously pressed at the moment, and it is clear that the' enemy is making a strong effort hero to hold ba'jk our advanced line. At latest advices the British had penetrated to points 10 miles oast of (.he Sonimc (vhieli means from 3 to 4 miles fuithet' I!m;i was recorded yesterday), and 40 more villages ut-.d towur, havo /alley into our possession. And progress still continues.

The yl'cnnli have boon equally successful. Moving in a north and north-easterly direction they have now pasutd beyond Couc.y, Ckauny, Tergnier, Kara,, and towards

the towns of La Fere and St. Quentin, keeping well up with the British advanco on their northern flank. To all appearances the two most important centres ahead of them, Cambrai and St. Quentin, are both seriously threatened. If the enemy is going to make an early stand it will be in defence of the railway communications which radiato from these towns. Should these towns fall without much fighting, we may be confident that the j German retreat means a very big retirement indeod, and that the new line is well back towards the Belgian frontier. • • 0 *

On the Eastern line of battle, matters are still quiet. Russian arms, however, are still prevailing over the Turk, who has now been driven out of Persia. In Macedonia both the Bulgarians and Germans a.re minimising the success of French arms north of Monastir, and are affirming that a nine days' battle botween Ochrida and the Prespa Lakes was without result. That sounds very much like an admission of defeat from the enemy. The French announce that their fighting north of Monastir has resulted in considerable 1 progress, .some twelve hundred prisoners having been taken in the fighting.

That very sensitive institution in Berlin known as the Bourse expects a declaration of war from America within forty-eight hours. There is no doubt that the situation in the United States does not look particularly hopeful from the German point of view, but until Congress meets the possibility of the President declaring war on Germany seems extremely remote, and Congress cannot' meet until April. There is, however, one very curious, message this morning that is worth noting. "The State Department," it reads, "has announced that the United _ States will co-operate with the Allies in all war operations." This message would seem to suggest that America has already declared war on Germany, or is at war with Germany; otherwise how can she co-operate .with the Allies in their war operations? It may be, of courso, that the message has been mutilated in transmission, but as it reads it certainly gives some ground for the possible inference that war has teen declared and that the news has been held back. However, we have waited so long now for America to act that another day or two's delay will not hurt us.