The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1916. THE WEST FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1916. THE WEST FRONT.

The number of strongly defended positions which the Germans have been ordered to hold at all costs, but have had tc yield up to the Anglo-French forces is growing considerably. The latest instance is the village of Saillisel, a portion of which was recently recovered by the Germans, but has now been regained by the French. There is every indication tint the village wis stubbornly defended by the enemy, whose losses have consequently been severe. This stock order of the German high command to hold various places at all cost is somewhat akin to the oft-repeated assertion that the AUi«) cannot break through the German front, lmt thi.fait remains that this breaking through process is being successfully carried out, not with the reckless disregard oi life common to German methods of "Holding on" to forlorn hopes, but with a steady determination and confidence, '.be outcome of perfect faiti in the reliability of t,he artillery to prepare the way, thereby minimising the Allies' losses and increas ing those of the enemy. So-called "impregnable" defences have fallen without any apparent special efforts, there being no lie"')long rushes or rashness, everv

move forward being carefully prepared and carried out witix mathematical precision. War is a science, and the Allies, by treating it as such, have taken from the enemy his faith in Providence favuring the big battalions. After a brief period of comparative quiet, both the British and French forces have again made notable progress. The complete capture of Saillisel involved desperate fighting, and it is pleasing to note that the French have lost none of their dash, for they crumpled up two Bavarian battalions and retook the greater part of the village. Whilst this work was being successfully carried out, the British got astride of Ihe river Ancre and penetrated the German defences on a front of nearly five miles, capturing Beau' mont-Hamel, St. Pierre Divion, and valuable trenches north of Serre. A glance at the map will show the great importance of this movement in relation to the capture 3f Bapaume, which the Allies are approaching in a crescent, clearing the country of the enemy for a considerable area and gradually ■ converging on Bapauine, it being evident that the capture of this important junction is to precede the taking of Peronne. All th» captured positions were strongly fortified, Beaumont-Hamel being regarded as impregnable. The possession of the Ba-paumc-Peronne line will give the Allies a great advantage, for the longer the line that the Germans have to defend, the larger will bo the drain on their man power, end they have arrived at the stage when they cannot provide the men required for the task, while the Allies have the men available, and all they require is an adequate flow of men to keep up the strength of the force 3 in the field. It is quite clear that the Anglo-French commanders intend to give the enemy little, if any, breathing time to recover fro.u his defeats, nor to allow opportunities tor constructing elaborate ne-.v defences. This harassing and weaving down proeeES, coupled with the heavy losses in action, is a great factor in the Allies' favor. The desperate need for more men is evidenced by the ruthless means Germany is adopting to increase her strength. This again emphasises the need of the Allies to utilise their man power to the utmost, and makes the call for men more insistent than hitherto—a call to whioli there should be a ready response.