The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1916. THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 48, 23 September 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1916. THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

it is an understood fact that to-day the Allies have a predominance in the mechanisin' of warfare, on the sea, in the air, and on land. The step gained in this direction has removed an enormous handicap under which we laboured for a long time. Not long ago a well-known French journalist stated that over the entire theatre of the Franco-British advance from Albert on the north to Fosieres on the south, that is an area twelve miles deep by eighteen miles wide, wore only nine miles on the old wind- j ing road from Bray to Pozieres. while i to-day there are hundreds of miles of newly-constructed good roads behind the Allied lines. Many Stations have been opened, the work of construction at each new point going on day and night. The work is done by the soldiers to whom the highest tribute is given. “This war,” said one of the French generals, “is the greatest lesson in solidarity. The soldiers uo not need supervision for they understand at once what is needed. They are now engineers. Remember that before the infantry comes the shell, before the shell the cannon, and before the cannon the wheelbarrow. 'fell those who still believe that 'we' can go to Berlin on horse-back and in white trousers that I have uo army I have a factory, that is all.” Sir Douglas Haig’s communiques have been full of encouragement and considerable actual advance has been made, but what is undoubtedly of more importance is the blow which the British and French forces have inflicted on the enemy moral. The Germans know now that they are meeting finer soldiers than themselves. The steel-clad moving forts used by the Allies have had a terrifying effect and have proved immensely valuable in unearthing the machine-gune snipers of the enemy. From latest official messages also it it clear that our aircraft in the recent great battle was able to completely dominate the aerial service ol the Germans, and in addition did much actual damage at close quarters enemy infantry in the field. The new ; . this week from the West is certainly the most encouraging we have had since the great offensive commenced.