PROGRESS OF THE WAR
In an attack on tho western section of tho Aisno heights the French have made a brilliant addition to the achievements of tho Allies during the summer and autumn campaigns. An advance to a, depth of noarly two miles on a five-mile front in an area where the Germans have desperately contested oyery foot of ground in long-con-tinued fighting. together with iho capture of 3000 prisoners and 19 guns, are amongst the results of the battle recorded at time of writing. In tho past progress of their offensive the French had dislodged trie enemy from the crest of tho Aisne heights at all points except a short section of tho ridge at its western end, in tho vicinity of Fort Malmaison. Possession of this section of the ridge, together with a considerable area, of tho descending northern slopes and some ground further west, has rewarded their latest effort. It is noteworthy that the positions now captured dominate the open country south of Laon. Though the Aisno heights constituted the backbone of the enemy's defensive line prior to tho French offensive in April last, they give extended observation over the j country to the north only along a short part of their total length. For about ten miles west from. Oraonno the Ste Croix Ridge screens the extensive plains about Laon and the roads and railways constituting the enemy's communications on this part of the front. The California Plateau, at the eastern end of the Aisne Eidge, gives wide observation over tho Champagne Plain to the north and east. The French have now won similar vantage • points looking into the broad tract of open country surrounding Laon.
The immediate result is to givo the enemy exposed positions to defend in an area whore ho has hitherto been advantageously posted, and ho will no doubt expend many lives in attempting to recover what he has lost. The- ground gained will bo a most important asset to the Allies when tho time comes to resume tho offensive on a big scale or to follow up an enemy retreat. A late- message shows that earlier reports did less than justice to the magnitude of the French success. It states that 7500 prisoners and 25 guns havo been captured, and throws further light upon tho overwhelming character of the enemy's defeat.
Monday's battle in Flanders cost the enemy an important range of strong defensive positions, which he has striven vainly and at heavy cost to recover, but operations are again being hampered by bad weather. Prospects of a spell of good weather, which will make it possible to drivethe enemy from his last foothold on high ground, ' are not growing "brighter but tho extreme apprehension with which ho regards tho outlook in Flanders is manifested in Ihc character of tho counter-attacks described in to-day's official messages.. No doubt tho tremendous demands he is called upon to meet in defending his menanced northern flank to some extent facilitated the French blow Eouth-wcst of Laon. The attackers state that they encountered strong forces of tho best German troops, but they -would undoubtedly havo been opposed by much greater forces if tho position lin Flanders had been, from the enemy's point of view, less desperately critical. The French bombardment extending over several days gave- the enomv full warning of what was coming, but the depletion of his resources necessarily limited his counter-measures.
M. Beiand, who preceded M. Eibot ae Prime Minister of France, has made the somewhat sensational revelation that in September last he was approached by jPbince Bulotv on behalf of Germany with an offer of peace. The terms offered were i such as the Allies were bound to decline. Indeed, only Germany's amazingly persistent delusion that other nations are prepared to descend to her own moral level made such an offer possible. Her proposal was that in return for tho restoration of Alsace-Lorraine to France and Trieste to Italy, Germany should be allowed to compensate herself at tho expense of Rxissia. Inadmissible as it was, the offer is to bo added to other evidence of the enemy's increasing desperation, and of the fact that the present offensive against Russia has been undertaken not because of its inherent attractions, but by way of making the best of a bad job. It is possible that the revelation may do some good in expediting the awakening and recovery of Russia.
It is now reported that the Fronch Cabinet crisis has been settTecl on the basis of all the Ministers, with ttic exception of M. Ribot, who held tho portfolio of Foreign Affairs, resuming office M. Ribot's withdrawal probably means nothing more than that his great ago and tho fatigues of office have compelled him to seek reposo. At all events he has consistently championed the unflinching prosecution of tho was , to a point of decisive victory, and is leaving a Government firmly pledged to the. same policy. The only disappointing feature of thesituation is that the Socialists am still holding aloof from the Government.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 26, 25 October 1917, Page 4
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839PROGRESS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 26, 25 October 1917, Page 4
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