The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1915. THE LONG EXPECTED MOVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1915. THE LONG EXPECTED MOVE.

After many months of comparative in** 1 tivity on tie Western front, during whichtime the Allies, and particularly the British, have been accumulating their resources of men and munitions, as well as developing their plans, a strenuous forward move has now commenced, and a terrific battle is taking place. The success which has attended this vigorous onslaught of the Allies on the enemy conies at a moat opportune moment, and will, therefore, be all the more welcome. It is evident that both the armies and navies of Britain and France are engaged in a concerted movement that has| for its immediate object the ejection of the Huns from France and Belgium. Apparently the enemy opened the ball by a continuous bombardment on our front, and an effective reply was given. Then the Allies began the move for which we have all been longing—a move that was carefully planned. All three branches of our attacking force were let loose from the leash. On infantry, artillery, and sappers, proved their worth; on the sea, the fleet, hidden by a friendly mist, poured a hurricane of shells on the shore defences of the enemy, the bombardment of Zeebrugge surpassing any previous effort of a like nature both in duration and intensity, and foiling the projected action of enemy submarines. At the same time our aerial fleet, also covered by the mist, succeeded in bombarding the German positions. It is not surprising, therefore, that the co-operation was not only moßt effective, but that tremendous slaughter of the enemy ensued. The material gain was five miles of trenches south of La Bassee Canal —an advance of 4000 yards in some instances—and the capture of u'oo yards at Hooge. Having secured a foot north of Arras, our troops proceeded to advance along almost the whole line. In the Champagne district, the French advanced on a front of fifteen miles to a depth of two and a half miles at some points, capturing 12,000 Germanß. It must be remembered that the enemy w# confident of being 80 strongly entrenched that the idea of a successful attack on their position was scouted as a mad idea, but they have now learned that the most comI plete and scientific network of trenches elaborated by the utmost skill could easily be taken by determined opponents , when the proper moment arrived. Once i more has convincing testimony been : given of the supreme importance of munitions in this war. Germany admits being repulsed north-west of Lovs and Nortli of Perthes, with heavy losses. The gratifying feature of this renewed offensive movement is that the positions have been retained, and the 1 ] fight is still progressing. The occupa- J tion of Souchez, and the advance east of Givenchy bear eloquent tribute to the gallantry of the Allies, and the news that the Germans are retreating will be hailed with joy, even though the backward movement is not extensive, iwat.

the artillery of the Allies is doing great execution is evident, and the force of their irresistible advance has had its due effect on tho Germans. Some idea of the weight of the blow may be gauged from the fact that the Germans are rushing to the scene of their misfortune every available man in Belgium, denuding the frontier posts m order to fling their full available strength into the defence. new army, Joffre's well-trained men, and the gallant Belgians have all been waiting and longing for their great moment, which may bo regarded as the actual beginning of active hostilities against the invaders. We may be absolutely confident that no detail necessary to the success of the operations has escaped the foresight of the Allied commanders. The task on which they are engaged is one that will tax their skill and resource to the utmost, but it is well within their ability to achieve. It will oost many valuable lives, but for that we are prepared, just as we are prepared for occasional reverses. The cable messages published this morning should be read with pride and gratification, and though we may feel plunged into a period of the greatest tension there can but be one 'sentiment animating the hearts of the people of the Empire—that the signal success which, has attended the opening movement may be continued until the final chapter of the war ie reached.