PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 208, 22 May 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The anticipation of a renewal of the German offensive is giving riso to various rumours—amongst others a revival of the story that Mackensesj is in, the Western theatre at the head of an army of manoeuvrebut so far as actual fighting is concerned the ovents of importance recorded are two local battlee, in both of which Allied efforts wcro crowned with conspicuous success. In a fuller account of the- capture of Ville-sur-Ancfo by the Australians, Sir Douglas Haig mentions that 360 prisoners were taken. Yesterday's messagos spoke- of 230. In a further report the Commander-in-Chief describes a successful attack by tho French on a front of 4000 yards north-east of Locre, in Southern Flanders, and the capture of 400 prisoners. In each case tho success achieved is' of material value. The Australian thrust ■ in tho Ancre valley intensifies the pressure on the northern flank of the enemy forces fading Amiens, and the French stroke has driven back the enemy lines in the vicinity of Schcrpenberg, the north-eastern flank of tho hill-chain on which tl!e Allies aro established in Southern Flanders.

In contrast with the conditions which obtained last year, London in recent months has been comparatively immune from aerial bombardment, and tho raid reported today commands attention almost as much on account of its rarity as because of its results, though theso were by no means negligible. Undoubtedly there would have been many such raids in recent days but for tho enormous strain imposed upon the enemy's aerial resources in the Western theatre and the porsistent attacks made upon,the aerodromes in Flanders which aro his most convenient bases for attacks on England. The enemy obviously feels it necessary to make some reply to tho successful Allied raids which havo lately been carried as far afield as Cologne, but it is not ifl. doubt that ho has never been worse placed than ho is now to weaken his aerial forqes in the Western theatre for tho sake of slaughtering non-combatants in London. Night raids like that now reported are as far as possible from being an effectivo military reply to what the Allies aro accomplishing day by day in and east of the battle zone, and it seems probable that the enemy has been moved .to resumo his attacks on England rather by tho necessity of deluding his own population than by the hopo of achieving results of military importance. The extreme inferiority of his aerial forces in France and Flanders hardly leaves room for any doubt on the point.

Official and other reports show that although tho raid was made in strong forco and obstinately pressed, it was effectively mot. The attacking formations were broken by an intense barra.ge fire as they passed over the coastal zone, and though some reached the London

district, four, according to a Press Bureau communication, were brought down. It is mentioned in detail reports that two Gothas came to earth in open country in Kent. Where tho others met their fate is not stated at time of wnting.

One of yesterday's cablegrams mentioned that fourteen now American destroyers had been named and would bo hurried to European waters. . The rapid production of destroyers in tho United States takes undoubtedly a very important place amongst the factors which make lor Cue defeat of tho onomy submarine campaign. Some interesting information on the subject was supplied early in March by the Washington correspondent of the London Times. He stated that ono private yard was turning out the swiftest and most powerful destroyers faster than Germany could build submarines. In great Government Navy yards, also, special efforts are concentrated on the samo model—3ooft., 36-knot destroyed, equipped with all kinds of new apparatus, including depth bombs and appliances which are being turned out at other yards. "This type of vessel," the correspondent observes, "is the natural enemy of the U-boat, all naval officers agreeing that the depth bomb has proved the most effective weapon against the submarine." He adds: "It is not permissible to give- tho number of destroyers, submarine chasers, and other craft which are building, or to reveal dates of completion, but it can be stated that construction is well ahead or the uchechilo, and that tho speed of production ia most satisfactory, as is evidenced by the fact that the time of construction of a 300 ft., 36-kuot latest type destroyer, from the laying of the keel to the trial trip, is only from 22 to 24 weeks; and that wnen the last American destroyer now under construction reaches European waters Great Britain and the United States combined will have 10 destroyers of the latest model for every single U-boat actually at work. There will also he a large addition to tho existing fleet of submarine chasers and patrol boats, and new and strange dangers will beset TJboats from the sky above anct from beneath the waters. It may be added that in no branch of naval, science has greater progress been made than in the new devices, both aerial and electrical, for the detection of submarines.!'

Another highly satisfactory report bearing on the submarine campaign comes from the Admiralty. It is to the effect that aerial observations and photographs demonstrate that no change has been made in the condition of the ZeebruggeUruges canal since April 23 (four days after it was blocked), and that the greater part of the enemy's submarine and torpedo craft based on tho Flanders coast have been immobilised—tho submarines at Burgos—since Zeebrugge was blocked. The report indicates _that the Germans have not yet completed the preparations which must precede an attempt to clear the canal entrance. The work, when it, is undertaken., will undoubtedly be very seriously impeded by aerial bombardment.

The American Secretary for War announced recently that there is no shortage of light or heavy Browning machine-guns. 'An interesting note on these- weapons appeared some time ago in the Scientific American, The light , Browning, which the- American military authorities preferred to the Lewis gun, it describes as "a riflo with automatic and semi-automatic action." Of the heavier type of Browning machine-gun it observes: "Like the light gun, tho heavy duty Browning piece is marked for its simplicity of construction, rendering manufacturing ' problems easy, and giving it a high degree of onduranco. In tho Government test 20,000 rounds were fired from this gun with only three stoppages, one being due to a defective cartridge. In a further test firing was continued with the Bamo gun to 39,500 shots, when the gear gave way. A duplicate gun fared 20,000 shots in 48 minutes 16 seconds without a malfunction, and with only three stoppages, these being duo to defective cartridges."