The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1916. ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 18 December 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1916. ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

The military situation on the Western Front is certainly as favourable as the Allied forces could expect, and we may quite reasonably look forward to greater successes before long. Every

effort made by Germany to stay tlie oncoming tide of avengers has been rendered futile and much ground has been relinquished under the 'assaults of the Allied arms. Reviewing tne position in this theatre last month, the Saturday Review points out that it is necessary during a short breathing space like the present—when nothing much can bo done' on the Somme owing to disastrous rains and mud—to re-impress the facts on the people. It is necessary because there are lugubrious people inclined to convey the idea that the British army been a failure there, that there are no generals to speak of, that we have lost or flung away a frightful number of men. What are- the facts y When, at the end of last June, we started on 1 the Germans at the Somme —the firsu great bombardment and the first greai push—the enemy had enjoyed all the best of the land war during one year and eleven months—that is to say—from August 1, 1914, to July I, 1 1910. Glorious deeds certainly bau 1 thrilled the Empire and covered the soldiers of France and Britain with' glory, but it still had to bo admitted that the enemy had held the upperj hand throughout the same period, tlmt the initiative was wit him, and tmu nowhere were we able—except outside Europe and on the sea—to beat him back and discourage his soldilers. From the beginning of July, however, a change came over things—a wonderfully refreshing and a blessed cnange. The under dog suddenly got off its back, faced the upper dog. drove at him, knocked him over in the dust — there was dust instead ol mud in these days—and over since then tin" hcen driving him hack. Without the slightest doubt, France and -’'Britain have had decidedly the best of evei \ engagement and every struggle on (he great Somme front, since the end of August, and Germany knows ibis and is afraid. The Review aisu rightly reminds' us that with the steady and unbroken success of Allied ■i-ms in the West, have synchronised t he'mastery iu the air by the British /iver the Germans, and the superiority, 1 ,,r the first time in the war, of British batteries. Roaring these fa* Is in mind, it only needs common sense and a fair judgment to perceive that the

great offensive on the Somme has proved the best tiling hitherto in the land war, so far as British a’Tns are concerned. If we sap down in despair as foolish pacifists would apparently have us do, our conduct would b--cravenly foolish. “Great work,” ilu* Review goes on to say, ‘‘has been achieved by the Somme off nsive, including the definite relief of \ erdnii and the close of that very grave, and at one time very nigh, danger. The repeated retreat of the enemy is great! Somme successes are due l to troops rapidly growing in the art of war, and with nothing to learn in the; way of courage. They are also due, to the fine generalship and energetic, staff work. The British Army in France has a very complete confidence, in the gallant gentleman, a man ak arms every inch of him, who leads; them. He is master in the art of war.] The Commander-in-Chief directs all, eyes at the British front to-day in France; and the Army would deeply resent any criticism that seemed in-, directly shot at him.” It is because these things are so that the desperate' militarists who ruthlessly rule Germany, have made their clumsy peace overtures; overtures so false and foolish that none but Germans can i e deceived by them. The Allied Great Powers, growing in strength of armament, of men, and of purpose, ma.vc it quite clear that the appeal fro n Germany for outside, 1 not bo tolerated, 'and that tin-..

not for one moment prepared to oncer any compromise with the enemy.