THE WAR ZONES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16204, 6 May 1918, Page 6

THE WAR ZONES.

WEEK'S OPERATIONS REVIEWED. (PRESS association telegram.) WELLINGTON, May o. The following summary of the military operations during the week ending Slay 2nd has been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— THE WESTERN FRONT. Since the recapture of Villers-Breton-neux on the night of April IM-L'oth,

in a brilliant counter-attack by the Australians and British troops, and the repulse of the enemy by the French at Hangard and Hangard Wood, there has been 110 change in the Somme salient, but in the Lys salient battles have been fought upon the issues 01 wnicli might well depend the future course or the present campaign. •Briefly these consist- of the capture oy the enemy of Mont Kemniel on April -stli and the failure of his efforts to follow up tiiis success by a further advance. Mont Kemniel was taken after a very severe struggle by an encircling movement round both flanks. The enemy made a serious attempt on Apri; 20th to follow up his success. His plan was to push his way through between Mont llougo and La Clyttc and then roll up the British line" north-

wards, so loreing them to evacuate the Ypres salient. He succeeded in advancing at one point, and reache-l the cross roads qorthward of Locre, but by a spiriiecji counter-attack the French throw Jnm back from his advanced positions and then regained Locre. British troops to the north held fast, taking a heavy toll of the enemy along tho whole* line. The assault delivered on the Belgians non.li of Ypres was completely repulsed, and its failure can only be considered a decided defeat of the enemy. On the Somme the best German troops were used, and such were the strength and determination of tho attacks that no excuse for this signal failure is admissible. The enemy so far from shaking the Allies' front, 011 the contrary increased their confidence, giving his own troops every reason for depression. A repulse before Amiens is more serious for the enemy than one further north, and tho "enemy's failure to occupy the plateau in which Cachy was the objective in last week's attack at Villers-Bretonneux, though in point of numbers not so big an affair as the struggle west of Mont Ivommcl. is nevertheless extremely satisfactory to the Allies, but the enemy, while continuing his threat in this salient, has gradually increased the number of his divisions 011 the northern battle-front until very considerable forces are represented. Only a few miles separate him fzom important strategic points which lie cannot be expected to renounce without further struggles. He is, however, dispersing his strength by persisting in an enterpriso which was not intended at first to develop on such a scale. Nevertheless the encouragement which has been given to these operations through the capture of Mont Kemmel may well decide tlie enemy to use up even more divisions to achieve a tactical success of more sentimental than military value, namely, the capture of Ypres. '

PALESTINE AND MESOPOTAMIA

In Palestine General Allenby has captured Es Salt and taken a number or prisoners. Ho also advanced towards Sche.chen in the neighbourhood of Mezrah. The Arabs in tho Maan area have cleared practically the whole district through which the railway runs as far as Mudowara, and have torn up tit V- or a stance of five miles. Meanwhile General Marshall advanced along tho Mosul road, reaching Tauq, Kifri, and Tuz Khurmatli, having already been captured with over 1800 prisoners. By the capture of Kiffe, tho British removed the threat to their comniunications eastward to Persia. This place was the centre of German intrigue as well as tho Turkish Divisional Headquarters and the sup-ply-collecting centre. The surrounding tribes wero encouraged by the enemy to harass, the British line of communication and generallv to opposo the better conditions which" British influence was gradually bringing about m these regions. The better-disposed tribes nro eager to co-onerate against the common enemy, who is willing enough to use them in his need but sideration' 106 s ' t,lern n ° con-

IN EAST AFRICA. In East Africa a converging movement through difficult country is gradually being carried out. ' Tlio enemy main force is on the Urner So 0 ' I ' lo A~!r C j f , orces , arc on ev'erv s'de. One Allied detachment, in attacking; an enemy convoy retreating on Nanuado, captured all the reserves of small arm ammunition of the German