A SIGNAL DEFEAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 27, 26 October 1917, Page 5

A SIGNAL DEFEAT

OVER 26,000 GERMAN CASUALTIES , ON THE AISNE SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS IN FLANDERS ITALIANS HEAVILY ATTACKED BAD WEEK FOE BRITISH SHIPPING } I'tifther details of tho French coup on. the Ajsne show : the signal defeat of the Germans on this part of the lino will be of great tactical value to the Allies. The German casualties in this action alone are, roughly, 26,000, of which number 8000 are prisoners. The French now hold thd advantage of position, and tie Germans are considered to be faced with .the necessity of making a eitrategic retreat. Coincidentally with the success on the Aisne, the Fretnch have also co-operated with the British in tile attacks in Belgium. To-day's dispatches Tccord a successful attack on the British left on abowt <x mile of front. Theso operations, in co-operation with the British, resulted in satisfactory progress being mads on both sides of tho Ypres-Staden railway. Indications of a big conflict are disclosed in tho dispatches from tho Austro-Italian theatre. The enemy has massed huge forces, reiuforccd by German troops, and is concentrating on an. effort to recover his lost'advantage on the Bainsizz'a Plateau. According to th«s /German official report, tho enemy clnims to have captured a largo number of prisoners. Up till a late hour no news of any kind had teen received from tho Russian front. The British shipping losses this week show an increase, 17 steamers of over IGOO tons having been sunk. A writer in tho "Daily Mail" points out that the third and most dangerous phaso of tho enemy's submarine campaign has been opened by tho introduction of large "diving cruisers"— mammoth , U-boats, mounting 8-inch guns. ■