PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 51, 23 November 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Possibilities of the utmost importance are oponed by tho British offensive between the Scarpo and St. Quentin reported to-day. Profiting in the first instance by an overwhelming surprise made possible by an astonishing departure from familiar tactics and by the able assistance of the "tanks," the attacking forces broke into tho enemy's elaborate defences on a wide front, but tho later reports in hand show that tho success was developed in a full tide of battle. The arresting fact meantime is that, a , broad wedge has been driven into the enemy front in such a fashion as to imminently threaten Cambrai, a highly important junction of roads and railways and- a vital element in the enemy's communications. When tho attack opened, Cambrai was eight miles behind the German front. As reports stand at tho moment of writing British troops have captured villages about three miles south-west of Cambrai and arc still advancing. Important oanal-crossings due south of the junction have also been mastered. Tho British are in possession, as tho result' of a single day's fighting, of fortified lines in which the enemy undoubtedly hoped at least to be able to maintain a prolonged defence. It is stated also that a considerablo force of British cavalry is operating on the Oambrai Plain. A complete penetration of the German front had como to bo regarded as impracticable, and possibly this opinion still holds good. But today's reports certainly suggest that as the result of a swift and brilliantly planned onslaught the .Germans are'at least as seriously threatened in the Cambrai region as in Flanders, Northern Franco, and on the French front, where they have suffered a long succession of defeats. The success of the British stroke is in many respects phenomenal, but it was, of course, .made possible by the long-continued "efforts of the Allies in other sections of the front, and has from every point of view a definite place in the orderly plan to which they aro working, o

Though there is much to encourago hope in tho splendid defensive struggle which the Italian forces are now making against tho AustroGerman onslaught, tho issue of the terrific contest along the Piavc and in tho mountain ranges still continues in doubt. It is evident that whatever state of demoralisation may havo existed in the. Italian Army when the Germans first broke through, that weakness has been fully repaired. All accounts agree as to the desperate valour and heroic self-sacrifice of the defending troops. But those who arc- loudest in their praise still confess to doubts as to whether tho present lino can be held against the increasing pressure being brought to bear against it. A further retreat would necessitate a considerable rotircmont and the sacrifice of Venice to the invaders, and the greatest danger involved in such a happening would probably be the effect on the uotfflle of Itajj... In whab sfiirit

would the nation receive such a blow, following so quickly on the collapse east ot the Isonzo and the rapid retirement under the weight of the enemy's attacks 1 The answer, it may be hoped, is to be found in tho spirited, reply of the Italian Government to the suggestion that it should relinquish its authority over Venice in order to save the city from tho despoiling hand of the invaders. The we arc told, refused to even consider tho proposal, and it is probable that tho people of Italy, knowing all that is at stake in the strugglo and hating tho Austrians us, bitter experience has taught; them to hate an overbearing neighbour, arc nioro solidly behind their Government to-day than they have been at any previous stage of the war. * * * *

In tho meantime we are left very much in the dark as to whether tho Anglo-French forces have yet been able to render any material aid in the struggle. Although it is now nearly a month since the Italian line was first broken and the clanger of the Austro-German invasion fully realised, tho Allied troops dispatched from France do not appear to have taken any material part in the fighting to stem the invading onslaught. Mention has been made of_ British troops assisting the Italians on tho Piave, but British artillery corps have been in Italy for a. long time past, and it is quite possible that this force has been confused with tho new reinforcements recently dispatched from France. One thing maybe regarded as certain, and thatf is that the force that is being; sent will be a strong one, and with the railways available it would take several weeks under existing conditions to transport even 100,000 men with artillery and equipment from France to the Italian fighting lines. It has to be borne in mind that owing to the tremendous losses in guns and material suffered by tho Italian forces in their retreat, and owing to the necossity for bringing lup tneir own reinforcements and reserves, the Italian railways and roads iu tho war sectors wouldbo fully taxed for tho time being irrespective of tho troops and supplies from France. The probability therefore is that the Anglo-French forces have not yet been m a, position to render any material aid to our hard-pressed Ally. If such is the case and a further retirement has not already been decided on as the soundest course to pursue there is ground for hope that Venice may still be saved. In any caso everything points to the struggh in Italy being maintained through the winter months with unremitting vigour, which will seriously disadvantage the enemy, whose transport difficulties are liable to prove a grave danger.