The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1917. A SPLENDID VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3107, 11 June 1917, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1917. A SPLENDID VICTORY

/ A number of brilliant victories the Western theatre B ince active operations were resumed in the early part of this year. The con of the Aisno, tba Anglo-French advance to the neifbCSd of IW w hi<A has left the cnZT2 $ an exce edingly narrow naigis, the capture of the Vimy "dgo by the British, and their invasion of the Hindenburg line, further east, all rank as great achievements. Great as they were it is not exaggerating tho facts to say that they have been excelled and overshadowed by the victorious assault in which British and Dominion troops gained Mcssines ridge From every point of view the battle and its outcome must regarded as opening a new chapter j n the history ot This conclusion will inevitably be reached by anyonei who attentively reads the dispatches from tho Oommander-in-vuM* and from correspondents at ™i? front in which the leading fea- , Wires of tho battle are admirably described. The biggest fact immediately m sight is that the battle mvolved a. test of , fighting power tho result of which can only bo regarded as final and decisive. Tho (jormans were attacked in positions which constituted, on See, Douglas JiAiG s word, one of their most imiportant strongholds on tho West ! f «mt. In defending these positions } they had every possible advantage other than that of superior fighting power. They spared no labour or outlay m attempting to make their positions on the Mcssines ridgo impregnable. Possessing every advantage of ground and observation, they overlooked the British preparafor attack, and massed all jtVailablo reserves to assist in coping with tho attack when it came. As a, proof of the enemy's absolute and marked inferiority in fighting power the result of tho battle is therefore not open to doubt or question. At the same time the successful attack on Messines ridgo is evidently an event leading up to even more damaging assaults. The spirit of the attacking troops and tho perfection of staff and mechanical organisation which told so heavily on the onemy on this occasion will naturally toll oven more he;ivily when ho has to meet attack lacking the pronounced advantages ho enjoyed on Mcssines ridge. It is at once the most pleasing and most promising feature of tho battle that the British victory was won at comparatively light cost. Sir Douglas Haig gives prominence to the fact that while the onemy suffered heavily, the British losses wero " light. Tho subject is dealt with also by I Me. Philip Gibbs, who states that | the losses of the day wero extraordinarily light and tho proportion of lightly wounded high: He mentions tho astonishing fact that at least one Irish company which took part in the battle gained its objective without suffering a single casualty. The extent to which the balanco of losses turned against tho enemy in Thursday's .battlo is indicated in Me. Giisbs's remark that tho victory is not clouded by the heavy sacrifices of tho Battle of tho Sommc. Even in that battle, as Sir Douglas Haig reported, the enemy's losses wero undoubtedly very considerably higher than thoso of tho Allies. There is ample evidence in tho Oomman-der-in"-Chief's reports and other messages that in contrast with the light British • losses on Thursday and subsequent, days those of tho enemy were desperately heavy. Thero is matter for deep prido in the fact that Now Zealand troops took an important an'd worthy part in this historic battlo. Universal testimony is borne to the dash and valour with which they assaulted and captured a vital rection of tho enemy stronghold, and high praise is given them also for tho speed and skill with which they entrenched tho conquered ground. In this battle as in many others tho New Zealanders proved themselves well worthy of the valiant company in which they fought. The extent to which the British victory may be expected to influence the development of the Western campaign cannot bo estimated out of hand, the more so as it seems highly probable that tho initial blow'struck so effectively will bo speedily followed up. It is clear, however, that tho heavy defeat he has suffered on a vital section of his front materially weakens the enemy's general position in _ tho Western theatre. It has been said of the German retreat that it is unique in that it presents no open flanks to the attack of tho pursuing armies. To what extent tho German flanks are secure has always, been an open question, but it is a fact that up to the presont they have

Been secured by t.lic old fortified hues at cither end of the retreating front Iu t.lte Mcssines ridge the British haw, captured ono of the strongest and most vitally important-, strongholds covering tho enemy s northern Hank. In order to defeat a dangerous outflanking movement ho must now cope with the .British on very much less advantageous ground than ho has lost ! His prospects of doing so may best be judged by the fata of Thursday's ' battle, which, as Sib. Douglas Haiq has said, "will become a gauge of [ the Germans' ability .to stop our advance under tho most favourable conditions, when they possess every advantage of ground and preparation, and know that an attack is impending." Without going into details, it may be observed that tho .British, victory heavily impairs tho enemy's prospects of shortening and straightening his line with a minimum sacrifice of territory. There is a much improved prospect of accentuating and turning to account whatever disadvantages the enemy labours under as a. result of tho salient formation of his lino id France and Flanders. Tho conquest of his vital stronghold in Southern Flanders and the intensified threat to Lille which results exposo him to a gravely increased danger of haying to execute a Tiurried and perilous retreat from tho great salient which he holds. If the British are able to make an extended advance in Flanders, as they now have good prospects of doing., it is unlikely that tho enemy, even if he contrives to retreat unbroken, will find a safe and satisfactory line without eiacuating a very great part of the French and Belgian territory now in his possession. limits the development of 'the' Western campaign is Dound to be considerably influenced and affected by events in other theatres, and in view of the present trend of affairs in Russia the prospect of bringing the war to an end this year is admittedly -waning. But the brilliant success with -which, the Western offensive is being develope'd is an earnest that, at worst the year will not end without the military defeat of tho enemy being made so plainly manifest that the Allies will* be able to look forward in assured confidence to thoir ultimate victory.