PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3171, 23 August 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

To-day's reports'show that battles on an enormous scale are developing on the Italian front, and point also to a rising tide of conflict in the Western theatre Fuller details emphasise the importance of the brilliant success won' by tho French on the Verdun front. Further falsehoods on, tho subject arc disseminated by tho Germans in their latest report, but it is perfectly clear that they were overwhelmingly defeated. The French were entirely successful in securing their objectives, and have now .consolidated the captured positions and heavily defeated the enemy's coun-ter-attacks. Tho number' of unwounded Germans taken prisoner in the battle now stands at five thousand—a very big haul in view of tho German method of holding tho front trenches lightly and. massing strong forces in "rear in readiness for immediate counter-attacks. A report just received shows that the French are continuing tneir assault on tho right bank of the Meuse, an'd havo added largely to tho gains reported yesterday. As in their magnificent counter-strokes in October and December last year, they arorecoverr ing in swift and irresistible assaults ground which was won by tho enemy in weeks of laborious and painful effort and at an enormous sacrifice of life.

Thk British are seconding tho efforts of their Allies by a powerful attack in the Lens area. _As reports stand a heavy battle is in progress, and very probably the fate of Lens is trembling in the balance. Tho tenacity with which the enemy has dofended Lens—now a mass of shell-shattered ruins—and tho fact that tho Canadians advancing to the assault met advancing enemy troops, are indications of his desperate anxiety to prevent the further invasion of his defonces in tho area south of Lille. When its details are more fully disclosed tho British attack west and north-west of Lens will no doubt appear as a highly important contribution to tho concerted offensive which isat the moment developing on an immensely formidable scale both in the Western theatre and in Italy.

Though the Western Allies and the- Italians are everywhere working to an ordered plan_ in developing their offensive, it is no doubt ono of their objects to compel a transfer of enemy forces from East to West and afford relief to the hard-pressed Russo-Rumanian armies in Moldavia. One report to-day states that the enemy is dispatching troops from Galicia to tho Western theatre, and tho transfer, of course, is made under compulsion. The position in Moldavia, is still undetermined. A Russian official report just received admits that the enemy has gained a little more ground at some points in Western Moldavia, but his progress has nowhere been rapid, and in ono area at least he has been thrust back uncjer pressure of a Rumanian coun-ter-attack. As matters aro_ developing in otber theatres it is by no means impossible that the enemy armies in Moldavia may be weakened at a time when an undiminish3d\ effort is essential to their success. • * * * * Particularly promising accounts are given of tho Italian offensive. The attacking armies are making headway both on the Isonzo front, north of Gorizia, and on tho Carso Plateau, immediately north of the coast Toutc to Trieste. Both Monto Santo, a mountain forming a strong bastion in the defences north of Gorizia, and tho formidable Uermada stronghold on the southern ;jedge of tho Carso Plateau aro eaid

to bo imminently threatened. Even tho Italian official roport states that the onemy'slino is beginning to bond and givo way. Hcrmada is manifestly threatened by the reduction of hill positions a little further north, but details of progress made on the Isonzo arc at tho moment lacking. Tho Italians have now gathered in more than ten thousand, prisoners, and seem to have good prospects of expanding the splendid success already won. At the same timo full account must bo taken of the formidable obstacles which will continue to oppose their advance until tho back of the Austrian resistance has been completely broken. On the Carao, for instance, the consolidation of ground gained which is necessary at each stage of an advance takes a considerable time owing to the impossibility of constructing even a passable trench without the . assistance of rock drills. At times the Italians arc able to adapt tho Austrian system of trenches and caverns, but often the work has to be begun at the beginning. So long as the Austrians have reserve lines, constructed at leisure, to fall back upon, and are able to mass men and guns, really rapid progress by the Italians is hardly to bo expected.