PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 196, 8 May 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Tut; only event of importance in tbc Western theatre reported at Lime of writing is an attack in which Australian troops appreciably advanced the British line a few miles north of the Sommc. In its first stage the affair was a night surprise, in which the attackers broke into the enemy lines to a depth of 700 yards on a front of 1500 yards. The enemy obstinately defended the positions against which the attack was next developed, hut the gallant efforts of the Australians enabled them to penetrate, to a further depth of 500 yards on a somewhat extended front. The affair seems to have been conducted from first to last with brilliant dash, and the Commander-in-Chief mentions that while the enemy suffered heavily, the casualties of the attacking units were slight. The gain of ground is probably much raoro important than its mere- extent would indicate. The attack took shape west and south-west of Morlancourt. between the Somrao and the Ancre. The latter river, with its neighbouring marshes, constitutes a defensive barrier flanking the- enemy's advance on Amiens—a barrier which lie vainly strove to break through in heavy and costly attacks. At some points, however, he closely approached the Ancrc, and m ono or two places gained a, limited foothold on tho western bank. One of the points at which the German troops reached tho river is Dcrnancourt, a mile or two north of Morlancourt and midway between that place and Albert. As a result of the Australian advance any positions the enemy still holds in the vicinity of Dcrnancourt should be seriously outflanked.

* # * * A message from Mn. Pehcival Phillips, which arrived us late nows yesterday, cleared up. uncertainties as to the position reached in Southcm Flanders and in tho Lys salient generally. Like other correspondents, Mn. Phillips is convince! that tho Germans arc now far too deeply committed in their northern offensive to draw baok, but ho made it plain that they are doomed to continue under desperately trying conditions and at desperate cost. Much of the ground which the enemy has gained,, particularly in the northern front of the Lys sali'ont, is waterlogged, and will remain in that condition until it has been dried by a lengthy spell of fino weather. Handicapped initially by having to move men and guns over boggy ground, the enemy is exposed to an annihilating bombardment. It is ovident that the Allied artillery is making splendid uso of its opportunity. Indeed Mn. Phillips is convinced that in spito of their difficulties of movement and transport the Germans would bofore now nave launched further attacks against the hills held bv tho Allies in Southern Flanders but for tho fine work of tho British gunners. Such conditions as he describes must obviously tend to seriously demoraliso tho onomy troops and correspondingly heartcu the Allies.

An English correspondent in Holland reports to-day that a largo number of Austrian infantry have been transferred to Germany for garrison and other duties to replace Gormans, and that a great weeding out of the civil population is going on owing to the losses in the past six weeks. The last-mentioned aeasures aro not likely to augment Germany's oxisting .forces to any appreciable extent. According to the best available information, "combing out" was long ago carried to its practicable limits in the Fatherland, and thoro is no roason to doubt reports on tho subject concidering that the yfrang recruits of the 1020 class—half of whom aro not yet eighteen—aro in reserve, if they have not yet been actually employed in battle. The substitution.of Austrians for German troops in garrison and othor duties in tho interior holds more serious possibilities. It has been estimated that a mobilised strength of fivo and a half millions gives Germany a force of from 3,250,000 to 3,500,000 men available for service on the fighting front and in immediate- reserve Only a proportion of tho balance couut, howover, be replaced by Austvians, no matter htow many of the latter were available, and it is likely that the number actually available is limited. Moreover, such troops as Germany has retained in garrison in line of communication and other duties in tho interior are naturally not of first-class fighting quality. Such possibilities as exist of increasing the strength of the German field amines in this way are so obvious that it is reasonable to assume that they were turned to account eome time ago. It is unlikely that the transfer of Austrian troops is now being carried out on such a scale as to create a new balance of reserves at tho present stage. Confirmation of the report under notice would in any case moan, amongst other things, that tho force which otherwise \pnld have been available to act agflrhst Italy had been appreciably reduced. It would not, however, exclude the possibility that some German divisions may be sent to tho Italian front, or may bo already there.

A brief message dealing with the Palcstino campaign shows that the British operations east of the Jordan have been contracted, though some forces are being maintained cast of the river to hold tho crossings. The message rather suggests that tho Turks based on the Hejaz railway have been reinforced, but it is not in doubt that tho recent British operations between tho Jordan and the railway have been crowned with success. Close upon n, thousand Turks and Germans and "some valuable war material have been captured, and the . British casualties were lighter than those indicted on the enoray.