PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

As reports stand tho battle in Franco has not yet reached a stage at which much light is to be obtained by analysing its details, but its broad developments are , distinctly encouraging from the Allied point of view. The enemy s plan is described as an attempt to crush the Allied front between Montdidior" (20 miles south-cast ot Amiens) and the Marno between the jaws of a gigantic pair of pincers, bnc jaw is represented by the forces massed on the front on which he is now attacking—a front of rather more than 20 miles, extending cast and slightly south from Montdidier to the Oise—the other by. the divisions which have been vainly attacking the French and Americans in tho area between tho Marne and the forest of Villcrs Cottevets. Tho story unfolded to-day is that the northern jaw of itho pincers has been moved for a limited distance, but not without sustaining sonous _ # # \

The Allies are so placed in tho present battle area that they cannot yield any great extent of ground without seriously jeopardising their own position and enabling the enemy to greatly improve his position from the point of view of further attack. They are accordingly offering a most gallant and determined resistance, and all accounts agree that the enemy has made his limited advance at the cost of extraordinary losses. It seems likely that so far as tho enemy's losses arc concerned this battle surpasses his worst cxneriences at Verdun. For three days before the battle opened his troops assembled and concentrated under a storm of bombardment from the French batteries. His attacking masses have since been exposed continuously to a withering fire from artillery and machine-guns, and in addition French and British aerial squadrons are doing their utmost against his troops and depots. There is not the slightest doubt that tho enemy is suffering enormous losses in men and material. * * * *

On the other hand the progress ho has made, though it is small in proportion to those losses and by the standards set in the campaign, cannot bo regarded as unimportant. In the first stage of the _ battle the enemy masses were solidly held on cither wing of the attacking front, and did not get beyond the French first line. In the 'centre desperate efforts enabled them to penetrate the front to a, depth of something over three miles. The latest reports in hand sb,ow that the Germans have now penetrated to a similar depth •on their left flank, where the battle is being fought amongst the wooded hills which skirt the valley of the Oisc. Any considerable extension'of tbo advance along the Oisc , Valley would enable the enemy to outflank the groat forest barrier to the south, against which all his frontal attacks have thus far broken in vain. It may bo assumed that no such advance will be made if the Allies arc capable of preventing it, for the result would be to seriously expose Paris and to give the enemy a much more favourable opportunity than is now open to him of thrusting at Amiens. At tin; present slago the Allies arc still in many respects advantageously placed, antl it ia probable that they have never more successfully pursued their essential object of exhausting the enemy's strength. But the position is sufficiently critical and the issues raised in the battle are of a Eufficiont magnitude to

give some weight In the statement in ;i London message that it is hinted that (rKNEJML Foch is about to hunch his counter-Mow. The very 'fact that the enemy lias elected U) attack in circumstances which were bound to entail losses on the maximum scale suggests Uiafc ho is prepared to use up a great part of his available reserves in developing his present enterprise. It seems distinctly possible that the decisive struggle of the campaign is imminent, "if, indeed, the battle has not already assumed that character. •