PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 217, 1 June 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

It has been hitherto a subject of speculation whether the Germans undertook their offensive on the Aisne as a diversion or with a view to its continued development as an attack aiming at decisive results. A possible cxplantion now offers itself in the suggestion that they are intent upon creating conditions of comparatively open fighting on the whole front ■from Reims to Northern . France. Such a plan of attack is.bold, but of necessity entails commensurate dangers. Enormous resources are needed to prosecute such a gigantic attack as the enemy is developing, and tho hope has by no means disappeared that his ■ resources may give out while he is still considerably short of achieving his strategic object... Itvis.shqw.n to-day that the Allies have lost further ground, but it is shown also that they are adhering determinedly to their policy of meeting the. enemy's immediate blow in markedly inferior strength, and there arc as good reasons as ever, for believing that they are holding ' a considerable body of ■strength in reserve, and that the Generalissimo is awaiting his moment. In recent stages of the battle tho Germans have fought with odds in their favour of five to one, and that the Allies have not yet taken measures to at least partly redress the balance—which might be done cither by deploying additional reserves on the present battleiront or by launching a coun-ter-offensive at sonic more convenient point—plainly implies that they hope to profit by delay.

As tu the position reached'in the battle, to-day's news shows that the enemy is being doggedly held on both wings, but has made a further advance on the central portion of his front. Yesterday it was shown that the Germans had reached a line nowhere projecting more than a few miles south of a direct line connecting Soissons and Reims, which places, it will be remembered, are 'A'i miles apart. According to tiie latest messages the enemy is firmly held on the outskirts of Soissons and in the near neighbourhood of Reims, but at the height of his advance, in the centre, his front now bulges ton miles south of a straight line connecting the two towns. At ,Fcru-en-Tardenois and Vczilly, tho Germans are. 18 miles south ■ of the Chcmin des Dames Ridge. Tho reports which convey those facts state also, however, that for the time, at least the enemy's advance is at all points arrested.

The theory that the British divisions which made such a magnificent stand against the enemy's initial thrust against the eastern ilank of the Chcmin das Dames Ridge were posted in anticipation of a formidable attack is discredited by a correspondent whose message appears to-day. He states that when these divisions were sent to the eastern part of tho Aisnc front it was regarded as a quiet sector. If he is right, it follows that the enemy achieved the'measure of-sur-prise to be expected from the fact that he has the initiative, and is operating on interior lines, but tho real test will not e.omn _ until thu Allies have brought their strategic, reserve to bear.

On present; indications the enemy is rapidly using up his own general reserve without -jiaving compelled tho Allies to draw in anything like an equal degree upon their corresponding resources. U h stated to-day that the Germans have thus far used forty of the eighty divisions they had in reserve before the battle opened, and also that their total strength in the Western theatre is 210"divisions. According to tho latest available information the average strength of a German division is now Ki,ooo or 14,000 men, the total including 7500 infantry. This would give .the enemy at most a total strength of ,'5,000,000 men, and taking account of this total, and. of the extent to which the encmy_ is said to have drawn upon his divisions in reserve, it is a reasonable supposition that the Allies have still a considerable margin to work upon,