PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

. Bad weather is seriously hampering operations in the. Western theatre-, but in spito of this handicap the British have won an important success in the heavily-fortified area north of Lens. Sir Douglas Haicj reports tho capture of the enemy's first-lino positions between the northwestern outskirts of Lens and the Bois Hugo, a small wood north-cast of Loos—that is to say, on a front of over two miles. Another messtates that on part of the attacking front the Canadians broke into the enemy positions to a depth q£ nearly a mile. It is added that Ivens is now a mcro death-trap to tho Gormans if they continue to hold it. As tho front is now modified, Lens is tightly oncloscd in a small salient, and is exposed to a devastating converging fire. At the same timo somo headway has been made into the flank of the stroug La Bassce salient, on the north. The area of this battle is ono in which tho German line was all but piorcod in tho British offensive of September, 1915. Highland troops on that occasion advanced nearly four miles on n- narrow front, and passed beyond lall the. German trench lines. It has been said that if supports had been available the . enemy's northern front must , have- been pierced. The Highlanders mastered Hill .70 and reached the outskirts of a village standing about a mile and a half north of Lens. The fato of the latter place seemed already determined, and tho enemy's hold on Lille and tho plain of Douai was imminently threatened. Supports, however, were lacking at tho critical moment, and tho attacking troops, exposed to a tempest of converging fire, were compelled _ to retire. The Allies have revolutionised their methods, as well as immensely added to their strength, since the Battle of Loos was fought, and it may be taken for granted that in the latest attack noTtttempt was made to break completely through the enemy's line. In its scope, however, the attack seems to have been' an entirely successful contribution to tho process which aims at weakening the enemy front in vital areas until it is no longer capable of resisting assault.

A message just received shows that tho British gains were more important than at first appeared. Tho enemy has been dislodged .from strong defences on Hill 70 and other positions cast and south-cast of Loos, and the attacking troops have reached the western fringe of tho Cite St. Augustc, a village standing rather less than a mile and a half duo north of the north-eastern extremity of Lens. Cite St. Auguste is a junction of two light railways, one running to Lens and the other to Loos, and is also traversed by one of tho numerous roads which radiate from Lens. "With tho British established in the- western defences of Cite St. Auguste, tho enemy's hold on Lens has becomo exceedingly precarious. It will not be surprising if he very shortly evacuates this city which ■ho has striven so desperately to retain.

Though the area of conquered ground is comparatively limited, the latest British .attack seems to t.iko a not unimportant place in tho scries of short-range offensives -which the Allies have conducted with brilliant success during the last four months. It was remarked by the military correspondent of tho London Times recently that the prudent and limited offensive of which Arras and Mcssines are typical examples, is tho form of aggressive action which consorts best with the present situation and with tho relative numbers engaged on each side. "It has brought us completo triumphs, without excessive loss." ho added, "and has snared us tho great _ sacrifices aritl disappointments which morn soaring strategy has brought to all armies on the Western front since tho initial rush of the numerically superior German armies of 1014 was stayed on tho Manic and at Ypres. When, as on April 9 and June 7, the prudent short-rango offensive is combined with a complete and scientific utilisation of all tho now weapons and contrivances, thcD wo find the enemy not only beaten, but prostrated and reduced to a position of manifest inferiority. At the least possible cost to oursclvcswc do the oncmv tho irroatcst possiblo harm. .." Judging bv the particulars thus far mado available, these observations apnly in full force to the blow struck north of Lens. It is stated that the British losses wero light, and those of tho enemy heavy, and that five- German counter-at-tacks on the captured positions wero repulsed.

*■ * * * A Gbiuian report that Mackensbn is making headway in Southern Moldavia, and has at one- point captured throe thousand prisoners, awaits confirmation, but there is nothing in the news to suggest that the nosition in Rumania., from the Allied standpoint, is improving. Tho Russians report give-and-take fifrhting. but the Russo-Rumnnia,n front is already in serious jeopardy, and it is evident that an early and powerful effort is needed if the enemy is to bo. brought to a halt.

A return of fourteon British Bhips over 1600 tons and two of smaller tonnage sunk in tho week reported on to-day is a material improvement as compared with immediately preceding weeks. Last week twentyone big ships wcro sunk. Tho rate of losses remains serious enough to give, full emphasis to the problem of dealing effectively with the submarine, but tho realisation that the underwater campaign has failed to achieve decisive' results is a much graver matter for Germany than their continued losses aro to tho Allies.