The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

In what is described as being amongs the most brilliant despatches of the war, Sir Douglas 1-laig details, in this morning's cables, one of the most important offensives that have as yet taken place, involving an advance on a six miles front and the smashing through of the enemy's third and last line on a long established position. During this advance the large villages of Courcelette, Martinpuieh and Flers, eacli fully twice the size of Guillemont, were captured, the taking of Le Priez farm being one of the finest achievements in the war. It is not surprising that tl'is brilliant success should have evoked from King George a fitting tribute of praise, and the official report cannot fail to be received with the utmost enthusiasm throughout the Empire. It must he remembered that the Germans are making the utmost endeavor to stem the advance on Peronne, but ■ the Anglo-French forces are steadily advancing 'on that vantage point, the possession of which will be a most severe blow on the enemy. It will be seen that the French are within two miles of Mont St. Quentin,. which dominates Peronne, and that the encircling of Comblcs is progressing so satisfactorily that the capture of Merval will make the escape of the garrison impassible. All the gains are held, the counter-attacks being beaten off. It appears that the British are now using to good .purpose specially constructed motors, whicn are described as armored forts on wheels, and it is not difficult to conceive that such formidable weapons of attack are of the greatest service, especially in destroying machine-guns. Another factor in the Anglo-French success is the splendid work of the aviators, both as observers and raiders. The enemy is now feeling the main strength of the Allies, and the boasted invincibility of the. German armies has become an exploded myth. It is pleasing to note that the Serbians arc also making rapid progress, and that the Franco-Russians continue their victorious advance in the Fiorina region. At the same time the treachery of Greece in giving up towns to the Bulgarians has reached a stage when a drastic remedy should be instituted. This foul play emphasises the ground for the fear that was entertained when Salonika was first occupied, that the Greeks were more than likely, if a favorable opportunity presented itself, to attack the Allies in the rear. It is time that Greece was recognised as an enemy and dealt with accordingly. There is little news from the East front, but the good news from the Sornino overshadows all other items, not only by what has been accomplished, but in its bearing on the success of the war. The Allies have got the upper hand, and may be relied on to keep it.