The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1918. THE BATTLE OF THE SCHELDT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1918. THE BATTLE OF THE SCHELDT.

'A recent cable stated tliat the war correspondent, Mr. Philip Gibbs, reported that the troops were lighting in the foulest weather, and on soggy ground, adding that on the front from Tournai to Valenciennes "we have reached a stage where the Germans will \mdoubted ly make a stand." The significance of the movement at Valenciennes is obvious. The rapid Allied progress, in spite of the weather and the sodden nature of the ground, has continued, but is now slowing- down, though the gains are still appreciable. They are now reaching a highly critical, significant and interesting phase of their advance, for they are closing on the line which has been sketched out as the probable line of the big German stand. It is said to be the best line available if the enemy intends to make an effort to retain the rest of Belgium, and if he does not stand along it, this will probably mean that he intends to fall back behind the line of the Meuse, retaining nothing but the province of Luxemburg and the grand duchy. The line to cover his flank against, the Allies' thrust south-eastward from the coast is the Scheldt. Ghent stands upon that river, and southwestward it offers an excellent ■line to the neighborhood of Tournai, where it bends round in the direction of Valenciennes. At Ghent the river turns north-east towards Antwerp, and between Ghent and the Dutch border (13 miles) there is no natural defensive line, so that at the most vital point the line is weak, for it is along the Dutch border that the Allies are naturally attempting to force their way. The enemy's line is rapidly approximating a right angle, and though this gives him the inner line in Belgium, it also gives the Allies a chance to roll up his front by their southeast thrust. Apparently, they are approaching the Scheldt all along the line from Ghent to Tournai. No doubt this line will be stubbornly defended because it is of the utmost importance to the enemy. It is quite likely that the German retreat may be hastened at any time by a strong Allied movement on the western flank. The situation is most promising, and it will be a source of much disappointment and regret if the weather prevents the carrying out of a most effective strategical movement, which might lead to a very large haul of prisoners. The Americans are taking part in this important offensive, which is proceeding most favorably. The awkward tongue of Dutch territory which thrusts itself southward towards the neighborhood of Liege may obstruct the Allies' advance when approaching German territory, but that same tongue of land will form a formidable obstacle to the German retreat. "Westward and northward of Antwerp the Belgian-Dutch frontier forms a kind of huge bay, and the Germans operating therein will have the southern portion of Dutch Limburg projecting right across their line of retreat—a very difficult situation for thcin to handle; hence the object of the Allies' outflanking movement. It is a veritable trap from which escape can be made only by extraordinary skill. A hard thrust at the enemy's centre would certainly spoil his chance of success, and drive him back to the Dutch border. Even more important to the enemy is the defensive line along the bend of the Aisne and the Meuse, because the Germans are pivoting on the Meuse, and if they were, to break there the whole plan of the retreat would be frustrated. The situation is one of surpassing interest, as the results of the Allies' present operations are fraught with momentous import on the succeeding stages of the Avar. That the enemy is aware of the critical nature of his position is evident by the desperate steps taken to delay the Allies' progress. It is a fight for time on Ihe one side and for gains on the other, and the ■weather is the deciding factor; hence it may be expected that the ■Allies will put forth their greatest strength in order to drive the enemy from Belgium before the winter sets in. Tt is evident that ■every effort will be made to break 'the-German defence, and there are ■not-wanting indications that success in this-direction will be forthcoming. ?