A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 308, 17 September 1918, Page 6

A WEEK OF THE WAR

ENEMY'S STAND ON THE HINDUBURG DEFENCES FEELING IN THE ENEMY COUNTRIES THE BOLSHEVIK TERROR IN RUSSIA. The Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. Sir James Allen)' has received from the British Ministry of Information the following telegraphic summary of the war news for the week ended September 13:- . ,■ The situation shows little change since September _5, when the enemy commenced to withdraw from the line of the Vesle. 111 the Lys sector ha -shows 110 inclination to give up the* Passchencjaelo - Wytschaete - Messines ridge, and much new work is being carried out in the rear lines in this •>.rea. Southwards he has straightened the Havrincourt-Oise line, while from north'of La Fere to the Ailetle he is now back 011 the old front line, and maiiv tains approximately a straight front to the Vesle near Brcuil, using the Aisne as-far as possible. He retired methodically, though forced to abandon much material. This withdrawal shortened his front by more than <0 miles, economising from 30 to 40 divisions. He now occupies a highly defensible zone, and 110 further withdrawal could counter-balance _ its loss ! except in the case of a very big retirej ment. He is now beginning to flood the country, and shows that he intends Ito stand firm. Before the Hindenburc; system can be seriously attacked mucli reconstruction will be necessary as regards communications. Already lijuch work has been done in re-establishing the bridges. The efficiency of our transport is shown by tlie fact that, last month the British artillery fired at least ten million rounds. _ Onr coun-ter-battery work resulted in the destruction of tho enemy's guns on a scale more than ten times greater tharf our own losses from a, similar cause.

The War in the Air. A most successful week was marked by strenuous British air fighting on the battlefront in France and also by sharp local encounters on the coastal area and over Germany itself. Possibly, fearing an extension of the present battle towards the roast, the enemy's scouts have been very active north of the Arras-Cambrai road, and many fierce conflicts have taken place over the Scarpe Valley. But the enemy's main air resistance has been between Maro.uion 'and the railway from.Equancourt to Epeliy, where the British airmen encountered unusually large enemy formations and engaged them constantly over their own lines, inflicting the heaviest losses. At the price of 51 British machines reported missing, 101 of the enemy's aircraft were destroyed, 57 were driven down helpless, and 18 kite balloons were brought down in flames. ' Most successful raids were made by the night-bombing machines, especially from September 6 to 8, when excellent results attended attacks on the enemy's railway connections at Armentieres, Lille, Douai, Cambrai, and St. Queniin. Nearly GO tons of bombs were dropped behind the enemy's lines during theso raids, and all British machines returned. The rapid British advance between the Scarpe and the Sommo necessitated the photographing of many positions which hitherto have been outside the actual fighting zone. Numbers of British reconnaissanco machines were actively engaged in this work, and took thousands of most valuable negatives of the new battle lines and the enemy 3 prepared positions in the rear. Stormy weather has been most unfavourable for coastal operations, yefc successful raids were made on the German military and naval works at Varssenaere, Bliuilienberghe, Bruges, and Ostend. Many good bursts were observed. Destructive fires were started among the' dock buildings at Ostend. During successive raias on September 0 and 6 the British formations were heavily attacked in the air over their objective. In severe fighting six of Ino enemy's machines were destroyed and four driven down. Four British machines failed to return. The R.A.F. Independent Force onco t.gain proved its ascendancy over, the German airmen by heavily raiding the notorious poison-gas factory at Mann--1 lieini- in the teeth of most obstinate resistance. Shortly after leaving tho aerodrome in the morning the British formations met . greatly superior numbers of the enemy's air force. Battle was joined instantly, and for seventy miles a continuous running fight was waged, but without preventing the British from reaching their objective, over which two tons of bombs were droppM. On the return journey another running fight occurred. One of the enemy s machines was destroyed, and two were driven down. Four British machine 1 ? wero reported missing. Destructive raids were also made on the enemy n rnilwav organisations at Erhange and Saarbruckcn, the blast furnaces at Esch, the hostile aerodromes at Buhl. Boulay, and Morhauge. At Buhl three hangars were completely destroyed, ana verv extensive damage done to the aircraft establishments at Morhango. which were attacked three times in >4 hours. „ ... On tho Balkan front seven of the enemy's machines were destroyed. ISO British machines were reported missing.

Feeling in Germany. The Allies' victories are. producing the natural effects on the internal political situation in Germany and Austria. It is rumoured that Dr. Solf, fornijny Colonial Secretary, may replace Count von Hertlitig as Chancellor, and also that the Reichstag is to be convened. These stories are of no diplomatic importance, yet they reveal dissatisfied and unquiet public feeling. Such exhortations as those of von Hindenburg show how anxiously the German authorities regard these changes m the "German spirit." In Red Russia. The Bolshevikij now seeing their end approaching) are resorting w the most extreme measures of terrorism, scores 01 ltussians of every party have been executed untried, ana many Bntisu subjects in mrogracl and Moscow have beon l arrested, including even our diplomatic representatives. The conditions are most terrible. Protests against this criminal policy ot bloodshed have been made by the representatives of all the neutral countries. Even tlio Gentians and the Austrian!} join ill the protest. The Bolsheviki hold on desperately only through tho support of the Lettish Guard and tho connivance of the Germans. The peasants in the various districts, maddened bv the lied Guards' campaign of vio--lence and spoliation, constantly rise and are praying for deliverance. The Siberian situation changes quickly, but at present shows an improvement. The different-detachments of Czecho-Slovaks seem Jo be in touch with one another, and the liolslieviki forces in tho rceion of Hn'r-uvrk appear to he melting. The CV.echo-Sloy/ilcg appear to hold tile entire 'Trans-Siber-ian railway. The control of this, solitary trunk system and of tho teleeraph is of (ir«t-rato uiportanre. Military and economic relief are being brought up as quickly as possible, and it is hoped that the arrangements now in progress may meet tie difficulties of winter.' . ..