PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 285, 21 August 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

■ - Generally speaking, to-day's reports from the Western theatre arc of a nature to awaken keen expectancy. There are at least suggestive indications* that events are rapidly leading up to another great battle. It is now practically certain that tlic Germans contemplate an important retirement along a- considerable part of what is commonly called the northern front—from Flanders to tho Oise, south of Noyon—and it is most unlikely that the Allies will be content to quietly follow up this movement, or to aggravate the problems with which tne enemy is grappling only by the "nibbling tactics" on a large scalc in which they have lately been so_ successful. At the moment of_ writing no really big movement is reported, although tho French havo mado a highly successful attack in the angle of tho Oise and the Aisnc, and Sin Douglas Hatg, in a message just received, reports a further British advance in the-Lys salient, which seems not unlikely to develop on a big scale. . appearances arc deceptive, however, these developments are merely preliminary to much more important events in near prospect. The enemy, as far as can be judged, is now finally committed to a defensive policy on tho West front. All that has happened recently is consistent with the statement attributed to-day to prisoners that lie is withdrawing with a view to securing improved positions before tho winter and to conserving his man-power. Obviously in these circumstances, the Allies have a strong incentive to attack, for the sake at once of harrying the enemy's retreat and of as far as possible upsetting his dispositions for a defensive stand. No doubt they would liko best of all to sec the enemy spend bis strength in efforts to regain tho initiative and resume the offensive. Failing that, however, they will: hardly permit the enemy to fall back comparatively unmolested on the positions ho considers most suitable for tho purposes of a defensive campaign, * * *

The Allies h&vo so far succeeded in throwing'tho enemy,into difficulties that only sheer inability to pursue the_ advantage would justify them in granting him a respite at the present stage. There is no reason to suppose that they are under the necessity of postponing further' offensive action on a big scale until next year. The enemy is saddled with awkward problems of defence, a.nd his _ fighting strength has been appreciably cut down in the battles fought since the Allies drove into the r.orth-v/estern flank of the Marno salient. All reports agree that tho German losses since the middle of July, and particularly in the'latest battles, have been phenomenally heavy, and those of tho Allies relatively light Taking account also of . the enemy's enormous losses of material, it, can j not bo doubted that the Allies, are to-day very much stronger relatively to the enemy than they were a month ago. American troops are already available in sufficient numbers to materially augment the Allied strength, and on all grounds it is reasonable to anticipate that tho policy of vigorous aggression upon which the Allies entered last month will be continued until winter imposes a check on operations, k * * ii

The advance in the forward area of the Lys salient which Sir Douglas Hmg reports to-day has given tho British a footing in Mervillc. an important road celitro oast of tho Nieppe forest and seven miles south-east of Hazebrouck junction. The advance was made on a total front of 10,000 yards. Immediately north and south of Mervillc the attacking troops, as news stands, have reached a road which runs south-south-east through that place from les Puresbecqucs to Paraclis, the latter a village two and a half miles south-east of Merville. , On the direct approach' to Mervillc the advance covered about a mile in depth. A. marked feature of the enemy's retirement in Flanders is that it, is doing comparatively little to improve his line. He is casing a salient, but lie is retiring over a wide stretch of low and, open country. Unless ho maintains a sound defensivo line in this area Mont Kcmmel and other important positions he holds in Southern Flanders will bo outflanked and made unten-

The French advance between the Oise and the Aisne has* yielded a considerable haul of prisoners as well as important ground. One result is to offer a distinct threat to the Hank of that section of the German lino which runs cast along tl» Aisno and Veslc, but the forward movement between the Oise and tho Aisne had its place also in the converging attack on Noyon.

It has been followed up. by an attack on the northern edge of the Lassigny massif, which lias carried the French to the outskirts of the town of Lassigny, while further cast, at Drcslincouvfc, they arc now only four miles distant from Noyon.