A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 5

A WEEK OF THE WAR

THE GREAT ADVANCE ENEMY GROWING NERVOUS The following telegraphic review of tlio general war situation for the week ended August 30 has been received by the Acting-Primo Minister, 'Sir James Allen, from tho British Ministry of Information: —

Ou the British front tho advance has been continued along tho whole lino from tho Somme to the Soarpo. On tho left flank north of the Scarpe, Gavrelles and Arleux-en-Gohello have been captured. South of the Scarpa wo gained Cherisy and Fontaine-les-Croisilles. These places had never yet been in British hands—our advance here has carried us two miles east of the farthest line ever reached in 1917. Most important progress has been made by the French between Roye and the Oise. Bapauine has fallen to tho British and Noyon to the French. It seems evident that the enemy intends to retire to a shorter line to obtain a better defensive position and economise his troops. He probably will retire to tho Hindenburg Line, but will endeavour to postpouo this course until the weather renders aotivo operations impracticable, whon he will 'probably make a stand west of the Hindenburg lino. Events will show whether ho will be allowed to retire gradually, according to plan. The British advance on either side of the Scarpo is already a serious threat to this line. Tho enemy cannot allow us to advance much further hero without endangering his gradual rotiromout. This explains his determined resistance on this part of the front. The British advance therefore is highly important, though its ultimate effect is not yet known. Tho enemy's resistance is very unequal— some divisions have exhibited the old determination, while others have surrendered freely. . It is necessary to guard against exaggerated expectations': of a German collapse. Nevertheless, the fighting of the past month shows a notable deterioration in tlio German moral, increasing indiscipline, insubordination, and disobcdier.ee of orders. Estimates of tho German total losses in dead from the beginning , of the war are largely conjectural, lrat the figure is certainly well over two millions. Between August 21 and % tho British have captured 21,000 prisctiers, whilo our total losses only el'g'itiy exceed this figure. Tlio total captured by tho British since August 8 exceeds 47,000, and the guns captured over 500. The Allies' captures ■ since July 18 exceed 100,000, "with jjrobaMy 'nearly 2000 guns. ■ The War In the Air.

The past woek has been nuia-bl© for the large number of raifls by the British over Belgium and the iihine provinces. Air lighting attained considerable intensity on the Western front. British airmen took a prominent and successful part in the recent fighting in France. Besides taking an immense number of photographic records, reconnaissanco and bombing raids, contact patrol work, they rondered invaluable assistance throughout tho battle by harassing the retreating onemy from the air, silencing and impeding' his batteries, and attacking isolated centres of resistance from ,■ a low height with machine-guns, and also supplying ammunition by air to- advanced British units. British airmen also attacked important railway junctions at Douni, Valenciennes, Hareoiug, Cambrai, and Soua-iii. causing much damago and delay. Over 200 tons of bombs were dropped on the Western front, while 95 enemy machines were destroyed, and 39 brought down during the week. Thirty-four British machines are reported missing. There- was ceaseless British ai? activity in tho northern coastal region. The Bruges docks were raided nine times, good , results being observed, and destructive fires being started among the dock buildings. Successful raids were also made upon imIpjoiritant military ■ objectives at Zeebrugge, Ostend, Middlekerke, 'Westende, Mariakerke, Marianalter, St. Pierre Oapelle, Zeebrugge, the Bruges Canal, Oostacker, and Ghistelles. The R.A.F. Independent Force carried out 30 separate raids into German territory, attacking the enemy's aerodrome at Boulay, the railway triangle at Metz-Sablons, the chemical factories at Mannheim, the aerodrome at Buhl, tho-, railway junction at Treves, the fitation at Frankfort, the barracks and station at Cologne, the chemical factory at Saaralbe, the aerodrome at Folpersweiler, the station at Luxembourg, etc. Extensive damage resulted. . Sheds and hangars were set on fire at Folpersweiler, and fires and explosions were observed at Saaralbe. Two tons of bombs were dropped in a single raid on Mannheim, the explosions occasioning ' extensive fires lat the/poison gas factory. The attack on tho second raid on Mannheim wa-s delivered from the low height of 200 feet, the British airmen narrowly avoiding collision with the factory * chimneys. AH the British machines safely returned, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire. The British airmen have also been active throughout the week in tho Mediterranean and Eastern theatres, dropping'many bombs and firing many thousands of rounds of machine-tniii ammunition, witli good effect. Nine enemy machines were destroyed, and one was forced down. Two British machines are reported missing.