PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 265, 29 July 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The French officially report, that the Germans are retreating on the whole front nortli of. the Marnc. Particulars thus far supplied show that the enemy is now nowhere within three miles of the north hank of tho river, and that the advancing Allied troops are within two miles of Fcrc-en-Tardenois, the centre from which most of the roads serving the southern area of the salient radiate. Tho advance on this centre suggests that the enemy may still find it difficult to withdraw his advanced offensive formations in safety. from the bottom of the pocket into which they rashly ventured.

If the Germans find it possible k> retreat speedily and without disaster, the evacuation or partial evacuation of the salient may _be followed quickly by the resumption of the offensive in which they have been so heavily checked. Present indications are, however, that the enemy has been subjected to an exhausting drain, and that even if he contrives to withdraw without disastrous loss his striking power will be much reduced as n. result of his late experience. His long delay before evacuating the north bank of tho Maine, has certainly cost him clear, and is an indication of the difficulties against which ho is contending in his retreat. Some of today's messages declare that after tho evacuation of the salient had been ordered, the order was countermanded. This does not improve the enemy's prospects as matters arcnow shaping, for it seems clear that the postponement was necessary to gain time and in order to in some degree relievo, the congestion of overtaxed communications. To-day's messaecs emphasise the part played by Allied aircraft, and there is little doubt that the crowded roads into and within tho salient and tho enemy masses occupying its area are affording French and British airmen their best targets of the war.

Profiting by the enemy s preoccupation in the main battle, the French have struck an admirably effective blow in the Champagne and re-established in that region an important section of the line they occupied prior to the enemy offensive on July 15. As reports stand an advance of a mile was mado on a front of twelve or thirteen miles east of the River Suippe. The sector attacked thus extends eastward from a point about twenty miles east of Reims. The enemy still holds some captured ground west of the Suippe, notably the Moronvillers crests. It seems likely that the positions recovered by the French were lightly held by the Germans.- The attack otherwise, in view of the ground gained, would probably have yielded; more than the eleven hundred prisoners mentioned in the reports.