PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

To-day's nows' points in the main to an improving situation in the battle area in Northern France and Flanders. With every incentive to press forward rapidly in their drive aprainst the British communications witn the coast, the Germans have come almost, if not absolutely, to a halt, and this state of affairs is the more promising since it is manifestly dile noti to any slackening in the enemy's efforts, bub to the increasingly stubborn resistance of the British troops who are nobly upholding, in this grim and deadly conflict, tho proudest traditions of their race. Tho position is summed up by a 1 correspondent who observes that the enemy continues to throw in fresh troops, but is opposed by steadily increasing forces, with tho result that tho battle is moro stationary although as intense as ever. Tho latest available report? from Sib Douglas Haig are a, record of practically unrelieved enemy defeats. Tho Germans claim that they have captured tho villages of Merris and Vieux Bercjuin, in the area southwest of. Bailleul and five miles cast of tho important road and railway centre of Hazebrouck. .If the report is accurate they have slightly advanced the nose of tho salient they have driven into the British line, but they have certainly mado no material advance at any point in the latest stage of tho battle covcrod in available reports. • * * #

While there is accumulating evidence that tho second great thrust of tho German offensivo has spent its force, it would bo unwiso to count upon any speedy or dramatic counter-effort on the part of the Allies. The enemy salient, thrust forward over low coimtry and firmly compressed on cither flank, is no doubt distinctly open to attack, and at_ the same time there are many indications that (the- Allies aro assembling great forces in and near the battle area. The tactical weakness of the enemy's position, coupled with the desirability of eliminating the existing menace to their communications with the coast, may induce the Allies to attack on one or both flanks of the salient, but so far as their larger plans are concerned it is safe to assume that they have no thought of copying the enemy's reckless tactics. As Mr. J. L. Garvijt remarks in an articlo quoted to-day, "merely by playing out this game without suffering catastrophe, and maintaining an unbroken front, the Allies will make absolutely sure of ultimate victory." The.v have nothing to gain and everything to lose- by throwing all their reserves into tho scale in a mighty effort to break and stem tho enemy_ offensive. No doubt thoir actual aim is to involve the enemy as deeply as possible in tho desperate policy upon which he has embarked, subject always to the condition of maintaining an unbroken front covering their vital commivnications. Should they choose meantime to stand fast upon an apparontly precarious line, it does not by any means follow that their decision is a sign of weakness. It is much moro probably a sign of strength and of confidence in the ultimate issue.

Mr. Lovat Fhaser, a well-known contributor to the Daily Mail, is cited to-day as assorting that the enemy's losses in tho offensive have not greatly exceeded those of tho Allies. If he has presented any supporting evidence, however, the iact is not apparent. Meantime against his unsupported assertion there, h k> bo placed the testimony of correspondents in the battle area that tho German Josses have very greatly exceeded those of the Allies, and all that has been said about the ruling 'conditions suggests that this must be the actual 6tate of affairs. German maeses have been thirust forward, often with little artillery sup-

port, against a most tenacious resistance by relatively light Allied forces. It would ha a miracle- in those, circumstances if the enemy's losses iven; not very much greater than those of the defending armies.