PROGRESS OF THE WAS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 31, 31 October 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAS

Some very important gains have bcon made 'by the Allies in recent heavy fighting in Flanders. The Canadians have now apparently gained ooinplcto possession o£ Bollcvuo Spur, and progress has been made simultaneously at other points on the Passchendaele Badge. Iho French unci Belgians nieantimehavo made auch headway in the inundated area between the Ysor Canal and tho Forest of Houthulst that it is said they now threaten the rear ol tho enemy's position at Dixmiidc. This is highly important, because it is at Dixmude (where they havo long been in contact with tho Belgians) that the Germans control the inundations on north and south. How far it will be possible to dovelop the offensive over the waterlogged plains under winter conditions it is difficult to say, but the gains lately made by the Allies aro an important contribution to the task of laying open the enemy front in Flanders. * # *■ *

In some respects, though not in regard to tho magnitude of the disaster suffered by the Italians, early accounts of the Austro-Gcr-man' offensive on the Isonzo front have been materially modified by latcL' news. Reports of tho transfer

of whole armies from the Russian front are now dismissed as fabulous. A lato message yesterday stated that only five German divisions were known to bo on tho Isonzo front, and that possibly another had arrived though it had nut been engaged. Since very few German divisions now consist of more than 14,000 men, this probably means a Gorman reinforcement of not more than 84,000 men instead of the :iOO,OOO at, first reported. An authoritative statement transmitted from London to-day declares that there aro as many enemy divisions on the Russian front as when tho Russian offensive began last July. According to tho same statement the Italians were fully prepared for the attack, met it in a. considerable numerical superiority on the whole front, and were confident of defeating it without he-lp from the Allies. No doubt they would have done so but for the fact that one corps of the Italian Beoond Army broke in face of the enemy and bo enabled him to fatally outflank the whole line to tho south. * * * *

Until it is known whether other troops aye in the condition of the corps which gave the Vincmy his opening, the outlook must remain uncertain. As a whole, howovcr, reports availablo at time of writing indicate that the Italians, though they have suffered terribly, are conducting ah orderly retreat to a selected line. Given generally Bound discipline throughout tho Italian armies, there is little doubt tint they will speedily check the enemy. Pending a definite test, it puts an encouraging light on prospects that Italian detachments hold up and delayed tho enemy at the passes opposite Tolmino, and at &her critical points where his rapid and uninterrupted advance would have magnified the disaster.

To-day's reports show that the Italians aro hastily retreating in tho area immediately north of the Adriatic as well as further north. A German report states that the Austrians are now before Udine, an important railway junction 18 miles west of tho Isonzo a-nd twelve miles west of the frontier. Udlno 18 connected by railway with Gorizia, but as to this line of advanco the enemy claims only that he has captured Oormons, a mile or two east of the frontier and 15 miles south-east of Udino. The Tagliamento Biver, on which.it is suggested that General Cadorna will halt his retreating armies, runs south 'from tho Carnio Alps to the Adriatic about thirty miles west of tho Isonzo. Most of the country between the two rivers is Italian territory. Over about two-thirds of its wfurso between the Alps and the sea the Taghamento runs through an open plain.