PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Following so closoly upon tho battle of last veek, the latest British attack in '-Flandors makes a striking addition to the evidence then afforded of the enemy's inability to make effcetivo head against the developing offensive. The main battle last week was fought on Thursday, and some ground was gained on following days. The attack ' reported to-day—a powerful forward drive on practically tho same front—was launched on Wednesday. This speedy development of the success won last week is a convincing proof of tho utter failure of tho enemy's counter-attacks, and suggests that the latest development in British tactics has given a new meaning to the term "continuous offensive." Full weight must, of course, bo given to the fact that tho area of conflict is ono which tho enemy lias spared no resource in fortifying with a view to tho creation of an impassable defensive barrier. The presont attack, as reports stand, lias broken deeply into the German defences on tho approach to Roulors and further south, and is significant, not only in its immediate importance, but as opening the prospect of a succcs-1 sion of similar blows.

Mn. Horatio Bottomley's statement' that Sir Douglas • Haig says he is absolutely confident of complete ancl early victory in the West presumably does not carry official sanction. But, premising that "early" does not necessarily mean this year, events officially reported give a good deal of colour to Mr. Bottomley's general account of conditions on the fighting front. Late developments in Flanders ecrtainly warrant and givo force to the statement that the enemy's power is visibly weakening, and it is no doubt quito true that tho British are 'ii a position to at any time set a period to the defencc of Lens. There are manifest advantages in reducing tho enemy's defensive organisation over the widest possible extent of front to a condition approaching eollapse as a preliminary to decisive attack. A more cautious commentator than Mr. Bottomley— General Smuts—said recently in reference to events on tho Western front: "We have adopted tactics which may not be showy, but the results are mathematically certain. We arc gaining ground which the supcrority of our artillery compels

f'.e enemy to relinquish. Our ad- | vanco costs us the minimum of casualties, but costs tile enemy tho maximum. If tho public understood these methods they would ask no question as to who is winning. Wo havo won, and tho Germans know it. They recognise what must bo tlio final result of our army's persistent pressure, despite their reassuring communiques. The semi-immo-bility of our armies to-day is due to an 'early fundamental mistake, which consisted in believing that tho one thing of importanco was soldiers. But the war has proved : t' to bp a war of machinery. We are now repairing the barm that was done. Tho superiority is< ours. The use of machinery in war, as a help on tho defensive, renders a quick victory impossible. Already tho Gorman governing classes know we havo won. Very soon there will not be a single man in tho Gorman Empire who will not understand. No ono can doubt the increasing terror of the enemy on seeing tho nations, from the smallest to the largest, one by ono siding against him and shutting tho financial market against him."

A splendidly successful day for tho British airmen—twenty-four onemy ma-chines being downed _it the cost of one British machine missing—is a conspicuous feature of current reports. There is news also of another naval bombardment of Ostend. As a whole such a power of attack is being brought to bear on the enemy in Flanders as to suggest that something more than a local improvement in line with a view to expediting the exhaustion of tho enemy reserves may be in prospect. Guided by purely military considerations and assuming that American aid is regarded as essential to the decisivo defeat of tho German armies, the Allies would probably not be anxious to oompel an extended enemy retreat this year.'But the factor of moral effect, to which General Smuts refers, is exceedingly important. This apart, a material step would be taken towards defeating the submarines if < the enemy wero dislodged from his present foothold on tho Belgian coast.

In the week reported 011 to-day the number of British ships sunk by mine and submarine was fifteen, as against nineteen in the previous week. Losses in ships over 1600 tons show, an increase, however, from eight 'to thirteen. The figure for the earlier week was unprecfidently low, and the loss of thirteen big ships shows no marked departure from the generally downward tendency which has been in evidence in recent months. Other noteworthy features of the current return are a loss 1 of only two small ships, as against fifteen and eleven in immediately preceding weeks, and an increased number of . unsuccessful attacks as compared with tho previous week.