PROGRESS OF ALLIES' OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF ALLIES' OFFENSIVE.

The latest news from the West front continues to be most gratifying. The main feature is the unchecked advance of the Allies, besides which the Germans' difficulties are houily increasing, and the morale of their crack regiments is said to be decidedly lower than heretofore. They are feeling the weight of the Allies' opposition in a way they never expected, and the fact that desperate attempts by means of counter-attack to stop the Allies' advance were of no avail, shows that a great change has taken place ! There have been few incidents in the war which have thrown such great credit on the Allies as the driving back of the Germans across the Marne. The graphic description of the terrible sweeping fire of the Allies that appears in to-day's " cables is an admirable illustration of their ability to turn defence into attack, and the fact that fifty per cent, of the German effectives became casualties is eloquent testimony to the thoroughness of i the tactics adopted by the Allies. By reaching the heights dominating Soissons, and by the capture of Chateau Thierry, the Allies have secured the two , German pivotal points, and stamps the offensive as the biggest made by the Al- J lies since the Arras opening in April, 1917, and with, probably, greater results ■ to follow. The blow has struck the i whole of the western side of the enemy i salient, also a few miles on the north of the Aisne. Up till the commencement of . the last German advance, which was so [ promptly held, up, it looked as if their ; plans for an advance on Paris might . possibly materialise, but, having bided , his time with exemplary patience, Gen- . oral Foch struck suddenly, effectively, and to such purpose that his forces, having got into their stride, are marching victoriously forward, day by day, and ' taking a heavy toll of the enemy. So | weA did the generalissiLio keep his secret ' that the clement of surprise was a factor in the success. Moreover, it is not known what man-power 3eneral Foch has available to carry on the movement, and it ; may lie—we hope it is—possible for him to scoop the pocket which is now being | firmly gripped, and gain one of tho greatest—if not the greatest—victories : of the war. That, however, will be seen 1 later. At present the offensive ia de- . vcloping most satisfactorily, and reflectr ing the greatest credit on the Allied [ forces. It is evident that the French . forces took to heart the order of General f. Gouraud (issued fay-the opening of

the counter-stroke) to concentrate their energies on the destruction of the enemy ; forces, and the fact that )io mentioned ' tJio arrival of strong infantry and artil- j lcry reinforcements would indicate that ■ the offensive was to be on a considerable scale. The feeling of joy exhibited in Paris is easily comprehended. It is sig- : niiicant that the offensive now rests with , the Allies, and that the tide of battle has turned, while the fact that the British are < co-operating gives the operations the : aspect of being on a large scale. The enemy is on the defensive along the '* whole front, and the important gains t&cured have given the Allies the command of very important points, and may lead to a converging movement that may be one of the most effective yet carried out. The feebleness of the enemy's resistance in places is difficult to account for, except that the troops are not seasoned; but even where the crack regiments were engaged they suffered (severely. It is long since such cheering news has come to hand, and its continuance is greatly to be desired.