THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 October 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

[bLBOTKIC TBLKOIIAi a - CCU'YIUOHT.] (At»tralia-New Zet,laod Cable Service.; THE WEST FRONT. Louden, October '17. Sir Douglas Haig reports The enemy losses in attacking Schwaben. Redioubt on Sunday night were exceeding heavy. Our kmc* were very slight. Our heavy artillery and trench mortars successfully bombarded the enemy's lines in the neighbourhood of Neuvillo St. Vaast. Our aeroplanes dropped bombs with excellent effect on a railway station also on a transport moving behind the enemy's lines. Paris, October 17. A communique states: We repulsed violent counter-attacks eastward of Liernay and captured a small wood b.tween Uenurinont and Ablaincourt. AN OFFICIAL REVIEW. London, October 17. The Press Bureau has issued an authoritative statement of the re.su.t ot the throj months' battle of the 'Somme The gtal was a nine l mile range ti low hills stretching from Jhicpval to Combles. This has l>ten won. It is t!i.main watershedi of the whole sy-iUMi of hil.'s stretciii'ng along' the Sommc V-alJey to a tract of low ground between Liens and Canibrai, beyond which lie the dead flats round Douai. We now took past Bapaunie to a ridge fledged with woods which has not yet been shelled, but none is 500 feet above the soa like those captured. The worst canio first. We are over it. Moreover the captured ridge is much eroded with water and is full of tortuous little valleys and minor ridges. The slopes before us are much smoother. The chief advantage of high ground is that it gives us superior power for observation. While we were fighting up the slopes of Mametz, Montauban, and Thiepval the enemy had the observation. We have the observation now and will not lose it even when the Germans tore driven northwards aoross the upper valley, of. the Ant-re. The whole of the opposite slope beyond Autre is a comparatively regular surface, with an even gradient commanded by the higher ground at Martinpuiich. The Germans in 1914 definitely chose this front as the line of highest ground between the French plain andi the Belgian plain. The ridge happily is valuable because its rear is served by vitally important railway transport. The Germans are beaten on the line their commanders chose as the best 'possible. They must now fight upon a line which is weak in itself and its fall must bring disasters.

RUMANIA'S POSITION. London, Octo. 17. The situation in Rumania continues doubtful. It is generally considered that the position has somewhat improved, as the Rumanian communiqces show. The Rumanians arc* stubbornly holding their own in the .mountains except flt Raseti Pass", wher'e they have withdrawn southwards. Nevertheless the newspapers are asking whether the Allies are doing everything possible to relieve the pressure. Two schools of opinion show diverse views, one asserting that redoubled efforts on the west front would achieve the best results. On the other hand it is uscsrted that 3 Macedonian offensive offers better prospects.

The Daily Chronicle declares that while attacks 011 the other fronts may be helpful, hy far the most direct assistance would be rendered by a considerable advance by General Sarrail. Hitherto General Wain-ail's army has scarcely risen to the full height of its role.

General Falkenhayn's success has hitherto been largely due to his artillery's superior range. Though the situation in Lucar causes anxiety it is pointed out that tho Rumanian position is now more advantageous than 11 week ago, when the Rumanians were fighting on a separated f.ront. The railhead! at Kimpolung ought now easily to send reinforcements, whereas road difficulties will -probably restrict the Germans from the further employment of heavy artillery. General Falkenhayn's new attack in the Dornavatra region is watched with interest. He apparently aims at severing the Rumanians from the Russians.