PROGRESS OF THE WAR
To-day's news from the Western theatre supports in many details the opinion expressed by a correspondent that the battle plans of the German war lords havo signally miscarried. Broadly speaking, the position disclosed at time of writing is that the enemy is everywhere firmly held north of tho Sommc, while south of that river he has at some points made limited progress, but in circumstances widely _ different from those which i obtained in tho opening days of his offensive. There is every likelihood of a violent conflict south of the Soramc, but tho enemy is of necessity weakened by tho exceedingly heavy losses he has already suffered, and the Allies have had time to bring up strong reinforcements. It is in theso commanding considerations— interestingly amplified in a number of to-day's messages—rather, than_ in the latest fluctuations of a. swaying battle that the main trend of events must be looked for. In the most recent fighting , the enemy seems to have gained ground only _in tho Sommc valley and at the village of Mezicres, about ten miles further south,! which roughly marks the point at which the French and British join hands. It is evident from tho reports that the enemy paid a full price for his limited advance in tlvsc localities, and inboth 'he is still at a distance of thirteen or fourteen miles from his objective— Amiens, A heavy battle is in progress on the front of twcnty-fivo miles which curve's round to .the south-east from the Franco-British "joint," but as renorts stand the enemy has made no further head worn this region. On a section of the front the French aro or have been vigorously counter-attacking, and there is every indication that they havo tho situation well in. hand. An official report speaks of tho continued arrival of reserves, and generally conveys the impression that the. enemy is vainly battering at a defensive front which is growing pfcrongcr hour by hour.
A late message shows that after long-continued efforts the enemy has made some progress against the French on the southern section of the battlefront. He has advanced vrst of the River Avre. and has also captured several villages south and south-east of Montdidicr That is to say, he lias gained ground both' north and smith of Mont-didicr railway junction, which was already in his hands. The movement represents an attempt to turn the Allied line to the north, and so cover another stage -towards Amiens. At the. moment the position looks rather critical, but with .strong; reserves at hand the French should be equal to the counter-effort that is evidently demanded. * * * *
Sik Douglas Haig's account of the severe defeat inflicted upon the enemy Last Thursday east of Arras 'is particularly encouraging as it bears upon the general course- of the battle. Tho Germans employed no fewer than ten divisions in an attempt to reach Arras and capture the Yiray ridgo by outflanking it on the south, but the attack broke down hopelessly, and made, the 'British Commander-in-Chief states, an inconsiderable impression on our battle positions. The enemy, therefore, has practically nothing to show for ■what must have been a prodigal expenditure of lives. With these specific /acts in hand it seems quite probable that current estimates of the enemy's losses and of the heavy drain already imposed upon his reserves aro within the mark. A German report published to-day claims the capture of 70,000 prisoners. If the enemy has adhered to his usual custom in such matters this is an exaggeration, but in any case the number of wounded and other prisoners in the enemy's hands probably constitutes a verv large proportion of the total Allied losses. On tho other hand tho German losses in the battle were estimated on Thursday last at 300,000, and that number, if correct, Iws by this time been greatly exceeded. It is also stated that the enemy has already thrown into the battle the whole of tho divisions he held in reserve when it opened, bo-
sides denuding certain sectors of his besb troops to provide further reinforcements. Allowing the most liberal margin for possible error, it should bo safe to assume that the German offensive is well beyond its point of maximum power, while the Allies have very considerable resources still to draw upon in meeting and countering the enemy's blow.
As matters are now shaping, U may bo worth remembering that in all their offensive operations the Allies havo made a particular point of provoking the enemy to tho utmost possible energy, and sacrifice, in counter-attacks. Pursuing this policy, they subjected him to tremendously heavy losses in the Sommc offensive and again last year. Assuming that they are now confident of their ability to repel whatever attempts the enemy makes to develop his offensive, they may quite possibly prefer to continue the battle on the present front, looking to a certain amount of fluctuation, rather than attempt to swiftly and decisively counter the enemy thrust by an offensive in Flanders or elsewhere. Some expectations have been awakened of an early and dramatic counterstroke, but it would not be surprising if the Allies postponed action on these lines, preferring meantime to deal with tho German masses which are- being recklessly squandered in'attack.
The factor of weather which has so often placed the Allies at a disadvantage in the development of their offensive is at present turning decidedly in their favour. The bad weather now reported will add heavily to the enemy's difficulties in moving men and guns over a devastated area. To tho Allies, with sound communications behind them, it will matter less. In the matter of shelter, also, the Allies have an advantage, and those at least of the enemy troops wno have been softened by a prolonged sojourn in elaborately-equipped lines will be apt to suffer severely in the conditions now prevailing. With the one important exception' that it hinders aerial operations, bad weather at present is distinctly advantageous to the Allies.
Handicapped as they are by the weather, the Allied airmen have given. a splendid account of themselves in the latest phase of the battle. Defying the weather, they havo persisted in their attacKß on German concentrations. Sir Douglas Haig's observation that there fs,% little- air fighting considering the number of British machines in the air, means, of course, that the British airmen were weakly opposed by the air forces of the enemy. Similar conditions evidently reign on the French sector.
Hematumisle progress is Being made by the British left-wing forces in Mesopotamia, which are advancing up the Euphrates. They have .now reached a point moro than SO miles beyond Hit, which place stands about 110 miles west-north-west of Bagdad, and the total of prisoners captured in the latest advance is increased from 3000 to 5000. There is good news also from Palestine, where tho army' of invasion is successfully extending its operations east of the Jordan, and has made a further advance westward of that river.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 4
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1,165PROGRESS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 4
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