Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16161, 15 March 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Apart from the usual aerial activity local raids, and tho mutual exchange of shells, there is little news to-day relating to military operations on the West front, and the prospoctsi of tho enemy attempting a big offensive in this theatre .'appear to bo as far off as over. The military critic of tho Berlin"''Lokal Anzeiger'' indicates that the Germans are still pinning thoir faith to the submarines, and expresses tho opinion that it will be better for them to await the Allied offensive, which he considers the U-boat campaign will make imperative, and deliver a ''knock-out blow" when the attacking armies have boen sufficiently weakened. Whether it is tho German intention to act on thesc v lines is, of course, a matter purely for conjecture, but it is obvious that tho economic situation of the Central Powers has

changed materially for the better now that they have gained access to the food supplies of Russia and Roumania undor the terms of the peacc forced upon these countries, and it would appear not unlikely that the German military leaders have . decided that there is moro to be gained, and less to be lost, by pursuing the campaign in the East, rather than in seeking to break the great Western line. To the West front, however, Gel-many must inevitably return, for no matter what victories she may gain in the East, or in the Balkans, she cannot prevent the steadily-growing strength of the En-tente-American armies in the West, and on this front the final decision will probably be reaefcod. Oil the Palestine front another victory is reported today, Indian troops attacking on an eleven mile front, and penetrating to a depth of three miles in the coastal sector. The news from Russia records no improvement in the situation. A Xew York message announces that German troops have entered Odessa, but tho German report merely states that the Austro-German forces arc before tho city. Still another air raid over England is but beyond the mere announcement of tho fact no details arc given.