The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1916. ANOTHER BRILLIANT VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1916, Page 1

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1916. ANOTHER BRILLIANT VICTORY.

When Sir Douglas Haig states that "the successes of the two days are of. very considerable importance," <we may be sure that a great stroke has been achieved, and that another brilliant victory stands to the credit of the AngloFrench forces, whose splendid co-opera-tion is, evidenced by the series of successful assaults that have marked the Allied advance in the region of the Somme. It is not, however, until we turn to the details of the lighting a?, described in the cable messages and by the war correspondents that we lean have any conception of the irresistible nature of these assaults' or of the smashing blows that are driving the enemy from one stronghold to another. The Allied attack has "been recently directed towards the vital centre of the local German communications, and it has to be remembered that the orders given by the German Headquarters impressed on the army that these positions must be held at all cost. That they were defended fiercely is evident, hut the time arrived when the defences were smashed and the enemy had to make hasty retreats. The descriptions of the operations leading up to and including the capture of Comblea are full of lurid and soul-stirring episodes, the outstanding feature being the frightful bombardments, the like of which nave never been previously known. It is now that the British are reaping the full advantage of their reorganised munitions supply, and the result amply justifies the strenuous efforts put forth to place an adequate supply of guns and high explosive shells at the service of the army. What this provision means wa% exemplified in the eighty-four hours' bombardment which preceded the general attack on Monday, and the ominous silence that followed from Martinpuich to the Somme >was akin to the hush that precedes a violent storm. It presaged a battle, of exceptional fierceness and it is not surprising to find this battle described as "possibly the Moodiest ever fought," just as it certainly is one of the most This great offensive may be said to hare started when the British smashed the enemy third line south of Bapaume, followed by the capture of German defences on a six-miles front between Martinpuich and Combles, and the strategic movement iov encircling the latter. Acting in perfect harmony, the AngloFrench forces made a determined effort to capture Combles as well as Bapaume, whereon the whole German position on the Somme pivoted. Combles was taken and the British advanced posts are, at the time of writing, within three miles of Bapaume. There was fierce fighting at Les Boeuffs, Morval and Fvegicourt, the Germans knowing that on the retention of those places was their last hope of saving Combles. ' In sheer desperation they vainly counterattacked again and again, being finally forced to fall back on Sailly. The German resistance was completely shattered and the remnant of the defenders sought safety in flight, though many fell. This double attack by Sir Donglas Haig and General Foch was an epoch-making offensive, and the gallantry ot their forces will add lustre to the brilliant achievements of the Allies in the West. The offensive has gone a long way towards driving a breach through the German front, and it has put out of action a very appreciable portion of enemy man power, for their losses are hound to bo very jicavy. It is part of the Allies' plan to hammer the enemy unmercifully as a means for shortening the resistance and incidentally reducing the duration of the war. Every victory in France has a most material bearing on the ultimate decisive blow. Tn view of the succession of Allied triumphs it is not unreasonable to attach more importance to the peace kites than would otherwise be warrantable, but only in the light that they are indications of the recognition of the enemy that the tide has turned and that their chance of victory has passed away. No one can read the account of the capture of Combles without being impressed with the superiority of the Allies. The statement that the victory was a cheap one must not be regarded as an assertion that the losses of the Allies were small, only that they were relatively so. Even that is a matter for gratification, though 'Whatever the price entailed it, is not grudged, for the re-

suit is fraught with important consequences, It was a glorious victory, and

we may expect tliat it will be speedily followed by the capture of Puronnc, and then events should move more rapidly. Meanwhile the moral effect on the enemy is undermining their powers of resistance, though we may expect that many oitter lights will have to he fought before the last 'blow is struck and peace is proclaimed.