PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

As tho British "High Military Authority" observes to-day, the Germans have nowhere reached high ground "in their offensive in Northern France and Flanders—they arc progressing only over flat country— and this is the most promising feature of the situation. .■ Nevertheless somo of tho later developments, of the battle are somewhat disturbing. The evacuation of Armentiercs, which was foreshadowed yesterday, is now announced, but this event is quito overshadowed by more serious developments to the west, where tho. enemy has crossed the Lys and advanced as far as Stecnwerck, a village three miles further north. This is a movement which threatens the rear of the Mcssincs Ridge, but the threat meantime is modified to some extent by the fact that the enemy has advanced on a narrow front. \

The general position disclosed yesterday was that'the British were successfully defending tho crest of tlie Messines Ridge against direct attack (and according to the latest available reports this still holds good), ,while further south the enemy had driven a broad wedge into the Allied line between La Bassee Canal and Armentieres, but was held on the line of the River Lys. It is in this latter area that the position has changed for the worse from tho point of view of the defending armies. The loss of Armentieres was not serious. "With the enemy's Advance on the south and into Ploegsteerfc Wood, to the north, the town had become an advanced salient in the British line, and one which . the ! Germans were enabled to saturate ■ with gas. It is stated to-day that the cvabuation was carried out in good order. The German advance beyond the Lys is a very different matter. While it was held' this river represented a barrier protecting the southern flank of the British line along the Flanders ridges to tho north. Even if the enemy is held at Stccn-we-rck, the margin of security from this point of view is seriously diminished. If he. should contrive to broaden his attacking front and extend his advance, the whole Flanders front will be vitally threatened from the rear.

The latest news in hand is a .message; from a -Times ■ correspondent, Mr. Robinson, dispatched from London early. on Friday morning. He ite of opinion that the enemy is definitely held, but it is not clear that the Germans have advanced on as restricted a front or one as awkwardly placed as ho suggests. Steenwerck stands .almost .due west of Armentieres, at a distance of about. five and a half miles. According to a report from Sir Douglas Haig, the enemy -• also • holds . Estaircs (on the Lys), -'a little over four miles south of Steenwerck. Nieppe, mentioned as one point at which the enemy was checked, is a village four miles east of Steenwerck. If these places arc located on the map it will be seen that the endmy salient is not particularly acute, though it is dominated, particularly in its eastern area, frorfi higher ground. All tho later news relating to the enemy's direct attacks on tho Messines Ridge and positions further.north suggests that they wore heavily defeated, but there does not seem to be any doubt that tho Germans have effected a dangerous lodgment on the .southern flank of tho Flanders front. The ground over which they have advanced is open and exposed, but lends itself to the rajjid movement of met} and guns. It is particularly well provided with roads, some of 1 them paved. Such: particulars as arc given of the balance of strength in tho battle—notably the statement that south of Armentieres eight German divisions were opposed by two British divisions and one Portuguese division—would be disquieting but for the. suggestion they carry that the Alties must bo holding forces in reserve. The impression conveyed in some messages that the Allied numerical weakness on the northern front is wholly explained by the movemont of forccs southward'is not convincing in view of available information regarding tho balance of strength. It is stated to-day definitely, and with an appearance of authority, that the Allies are still superior in numbers, and if this is the case it must be rather as a' matter of policy than of necessity,

that they have opposed the enemy in the. latest battle in such markedly interior strength.