PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

ComiESPONDKNTS with tho French Army, according to one of to-days messages, claim that the battle in Northern I'ranee and Flanders _ is reaching an absolutely decisive stage, but this evidently is a matter upon which opinions must be taken meantime'" for what they are worth. For all practical purposes it will be time enough-to talk of "an absolutely decisive stage" when General Foch launches the counteroffensive which ho no doubt contemplates at the proper moment. At present it is an open question whether ho is likely to act on these, lines a week or a month hence, or, even after a still more extended period of defensive fighting.. What is fairly apparent meantime is that although tie Germans in the latest stages of the battle have gained a considerable extent of ground which was formerly regarded as vital,, they have by no means made corresponding headway in their attempt to overwhelm the, British Army. « « * *. .

Amplified accounts arc given today of the retirement in which the British abandoned the Passchcn- j daelo Eidge to the enemy, and with i it a great part of the adjacent, tor-1 ritory gained in last year's often-, sive. It' is how clear that the withdrawal'was, nuide deliberately, and not under direct enemy, pressure. Not only was it made in good or : dor, but valuable material was removed and winter lines and other field works were methodically destroyed. The Germans have entered into possession of a shell-torn waste which already is liberally, strewn with their dead. The value of the Passchendacle llidgc in the conditions which- have now been created will only appear as time goes on. Assuming a normal continuation of the operations which were in progress last year, the loss of this long swell of rising ground, dominating tho territory on either side, and in particular giving, extended observation over the level Flanders plain to the east, would have been a disaster of magnitude. But conditions have now been completely altered. Last year the conquest of the Passchcndaclc Pudge represented a long step forward in a drive from the north against the enemy's main communications —a long step also towards dislodging the enemy from the Flanders coast. .That 'tho Passchendaelc llidgc and tho Messines llidge were not contested foot by foot is fairly- convincing evidence that the Allies arc now working to an entirely'-different plan.

The fact meantime in sight is that the ridges which the enemy strove so desperately to retain last year have.now been resigned as an incident in i\ defensive battle. Thebest evidence that tho retirement is j strategic . rather than, directly en- [ forced appears in the unyielding j defensive stand made by the British troops in sectors which arc regarded as for the' time being, or porman- ] ently, vital, pflicial and other re- j ports describe .exceedingly costly bv.fcj abortive attacks made by, the_ enemy j practically all round the salient he j has driven into the British line, i Ai Givcnchyand on th-j front extending north-west from that place j —that is to say, on the southern flank of his advance—ho has incurred enormous losses [n unsuccessfill attacks many times repeated. His latret efforts have added , large ly to Ms losses without giving him any countervailing advantage. On the northern face of .the Lys salient, where he made some headway a few da-ys .ago, his attacks reportI »:d to-day seem to have' been as unI successful and as costly as his attacks in the , south. The immediate demands of the battle from the British point of view arc that our armies should maintain a sound and unbroken organisation, and take the heaviest possible toll of the enemy. In the latest fighting both demands seem to have been fully met. * .*/ • * *~ ' A fine achievement landing to the credit of the Belgians was biief-... ly reported yesterday. The s ( iory is told to-day in greater detail.- When he became aware of the British v/ithIdrawal from Passchendaele, the enemy launched four or more divisions against a- short section of front south of Dixmudc, near to the joint j at which the Belgian's and t,he BritI ish join hands. Attackers have selj dom met a more discouraging reception than these divisions were given bv the .Belgians who met their orset.' The attack was heavily repulsed, and GOO of the attackers remained behind as prisoners. The affair is an encouraging indication that.the defence ot the northern section of the Allied line in Flanders is in good hands. The. task of the Belgians is lightened by the fact that much of their front is covered by the Yscr inundation, but there\is a narrow strip of practicable ground at the coast, and the Belgians arc also holding a short front immediately south' of the inundation. It was" here that the Germans made the ill-starred attack now reported.