PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 18 September 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

With tho exception that the Trench have made another important advance between the Ailcttc and the Aisne, there is a suggestion of lull about the news from the Western theatre in hand at time of writing. In the region of the American victory between the Meuse and tho Moselle fighting appears to have become stationary for the time being on or near tb" line indicated yesterday. Sir 17juglas Haig's latest available reports _ relate chiefly to local fighting at different points along the front, the most important development ho records being an advance on a two-mile front astride the Ypres-Cominer, Canal, towards the northern flank of tho Messines .Ridge. There is every reason to believe that in so far as they indicate a- settling down current reports are deceptive, but tho comparative calm now in evidence is more likely to be broken by. a surprise blow at some unexpected point than by any obvious development from recent operations or those still in progress. Surprise tactics by tho Allies and a serious failure of the German intelligence system have prominently marked the campaign since Marshal Foch struck his initial blow west of Soissons, and no doubt every effort will be made to profit further by surprise in the weeks of fine weather still in prospect. * » *

In their latest advance along the Aisno heights the French have captured Vailly, nine miles east of Soissons, and the Mont des 'Binges, a dominating height which- stands just south of the Ailcttc, opposite the south-eastern extremity of tho St. Gobain massif. The French in this sector have in effect broken deeply into the outworks_ of a strong fortress, but arc still confronted by formidable defences. So long as they are content to advance by gradual stages the enemy is not vitally threatened in -his positions on and south of the Chomin des Dames ridge and in those immediately covering Laon. He can only safeguard himself, however, by massing very strong forces in defence at some risk of _ prejudicing tho security of his line elsewhere, for he has, of course, no guarantee that the French will not suddenly develop thoir attack on a much more formidable scale. General Mangin's troops are already so far forward that a powerful drive from the positions thei now hold might throw the German forces to tho east and south into disastrous confusion, and possibly open the road to Laon.

It is claimed by the Germans that in an air attack on Paris, which they impudently describe as made "in reprisal for attacks on German towns, they dropped twenty-two tons of bombs. The only news on tho subject from Allied sources at timo oi writing is tho statement that an enemy three-seater aeroplane was brought down at Paris, but it is fairly certain that the Germans havo heavily exaggerated the weight of bombs they' contrived to drop on Paris. The disposal of such a weight of bombs in one night would mark a fairly good performance by the British bombing squadrons,, which long ago out-distanced and out-classed the corresponding enemy forces.

The American Committee on Public Information has done, good service* in publishing a detailed exposure of the dealings between Germany and tho Eussiiin Bolsheviki. It was long ago made known that the Bolshevik leadere had'accepted money and other assistance from Germany, but the actual depth of their infamy is only now fully exposed. These revelations make it clear that the leading members of the Bolshevik faction were first and foremost German tools, and completely dispose of the theory, much in favour for a time, that Lenin and his gang accepted German gold chiefly with a view to promoting their own weird doctrines.