Progress of 'the War

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 8

Progress of 'the War

The outstanding feature of to-day's cable messages is the description of the brilliant advance towards Beersheba by the Anzacs and the Imperial Mounted Cavalry, who have established themselves within five males of the town after repulsing an attack made by two Brigades of Turkish cavalry. This brilliant exploit may mark the initiation of a general ofFensive against Beersheba and Gaza, whero the British forces have been held up for some time past by the increased strength of the Turks. The importance of Beersheba from the military point of view lies in. the fact that it constitutes a serious menace to the flank of any army attempting to advance to the north. Gaza is the gateway to Syria and Palestine, and a great victory there would open up the road to Aleppo and Damascus, and would enable the victorious army to unlock the coastal ports, thus ensuring reinforcements and supplies by shorter and easier routes than by way of Suez, the only route at present available. After a lull on the -French sectors of the fighting front, the enemy has again made a vigorous attempt to break the French linea in the Champagne, and hog launched desperate counter-attacks upon the French positions. Except for a small local success at one point, all the attacks were repulsed with heavy losses to the assailants. The Italians havo progressed to within ten miles of Trieste, but the intervening mountainous terrain has been heavily fortified, and affords no shelter to attacking troops, according to the reports of correspondents with the Italian forces, so that there will probably be a lull on this sector until General Cadorna lias made dispositions for the second phase of his operations. He will probably consolidate his positions on the Carso, whilst carrying out an offensive northward and eastward of Gorisia, with a view to removing the menace to his flank. There is no fresh news from the British front, operations have again sul>sided into mutual artillery activity.