Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16119, 25 January 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

The cablcd messages continue to deal mainly with tho politico-military aspect of the war, and it would appear that on the fronts major movements have been suspended for tho time being. It cannot be said, however, that any of the belligerents arc resting, for

there is a ceaseless exchange of shells and aerial raids, and reconnaissances are carried out whenever the weather permits. To-day's communique from Sir Douglas Haig records, in addition to succcssful patrol encounters eastward of Ypres, several aerial succcsses of distinct import, including the bombing of steel works at Thionville, sixteen miles north of Metz, in Alsace-Lor-raine, and a railway siding and junction in Saxony. Since the War Cabinet announced its policy of reprisals for the raids on England, British aeroplane squadrons have carried oat twelve raids on German towns, and judging frotn the brief cabled loports of the damage inflicted —in every case on worjis of military importance —tho enemy should' have good reason to regret having initiated the policy of indiscriminate raids over England. Several messages relating to the submarine campaign feature in to-day's cables, but, although the .Admiralty's weekly return again shows a decided decrease in the sinkings of British vessols, other reports indicate that the menace is still a potent factor in the war. The loss of two steamers in the Mediterranean—presumably transports —with the loss of 700 lives, is reported, and questions in the House of Commons elicited answers which prove that the I'-boats have been extremely active around the coast of Britain.