Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY APRIL 17, 1917 THE STEADY ADVANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY APRIL 17, 1917 THE STEADY ADVANCE.

The extremely satisfactory position of the offensive in the western theatre of the Great War, is the steady and consistent advance by the British for the last two months. All along the line this has been noticeable. The latest fighting isetill in the amending scale, that is, the advance continues to extend further and further north, linked up, of course, with the sweeping gain made in the south in February and March. It were as if General Haig were testing the whole length of the line, preliminary to some great stroke. If in the meantime some ■weak link wete found so much the better, and the advantage could be pressed home. If not, then the whole line will be in trim for the great spring which is to signalise the real and giant offensive the is now waiting for. That episodß must of necessity be a deciding factor, and iris probably on this meve the gamblers are speeu luting when they look for the war to end inside three months. It seems all too short a time to close so giant and far-reaching a oonflict, but it has long been held that the war has to be decided in the West, and the sequence of events there already point to an assured victory. The question is how pood, and how sweeping. Hindeuburg's tactics must now bs charged to the task of extricating his forces to to save a debacle. The entry of the British into Lens is a notable event. This is the coal mining area which the enemy would not give up lightly. It is too valuable a prize to be evacuated, except... tinder severe pressure. A year ago there was intense fighting in this sector, and at that time the Germans were able to hold their own, or rather more so. It is clear now the tables are turned, and the effect of this will be more noticeable if the British are strong enough to push on from Lens, as no doubt they are. In that event Douai and Cambrai are both in danger of being cut off, and these points secured, the British draw very cloee to the Belgian frontier. A very important stage of the war is thus being made, and with che consistent fighting of the British there will be assured confidence in the result. It is interesting to uoto that where the most progress

is bsicg* ni'uie now the British forces pr edorniimte. This is so *n France, Palestine and Mesopotamia, thus bearing out the prediction of many last year that the brunt of the 1917 campaign would fall largely on tbs Bri'issh, The navhl task auii indeed the aerial fcvsk also, are largely successful because of the British forces operating. It is good to note this, for it helps us to realise the splendid results which have followed Britain’s efforts during the last two years and a half to prepare for war. There is the satisfaction that the strain e«Dd the drain lu»va_not boiu for nought, but that now Britain i.a ptepaved and fulfilling the highest place in the settlement by fotce of arms of the great task. Who, as a Britisher, would have it otherwise ?