Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

There are indications that the lull on tho West front is about to givo way to another Herman effort to brealt through the Allied line in Flanders. According io a "Washington message the British Military Mission forecasts the almost immediate resumption of the German offensive. Sir Douglas Haig's reports show that there has been considerable hostile artillery activity on different sectors of tho British front, also heavy local fighting between La Clyttc and Yoormezeelo, wiero the enemy launched a strong attack against the British and French, entering the Allied front line at certain points. Keuter's correspondent at British Headquarters states that the operation was apparently, an attempt to clear the way for a thrust towards Seherpenberg from the north-east, and adds that the attack may provo the boginning of further fierco fighting in this region. There has also been minor fighting north of the Somme, whore tho Australians made a further advance of 500 yards on a front of 1100 yards, tho attack being carried out in tho face of a heavy enemy barrage. A Mesopotamia official report shows that the British advanco towards Mosul continues, little opposition being encountered from the war-weary Turks. The occupation of Kirkuk, reported to-day, brings General Marshall within 80 miles of Mosul, tho capture of which should be an event of tho near future, unless tho Turkish resistance stiffens materially. No other actual military operations arc recorded to-day; the remainder o£ the cabled messages relating mainly to political aff&ifs in Britain, Austria's peitce move 3, and the text of the peace treaty forced upon Iloumania by tho Central Powers.

There is a tone of acerbity in the editorial article in the April number of ■the ''Journal of the Department of Public Health," which is issued monthly by direction of the' Hon. G. TV. llussell, Minister for Public Health. It complains that little interest is taken in the "Journal," either by secretaries or by liiombers of feoards, and tlier© has been no response to the Minister's foreword in the December number, asking medical superintendents, matrons, and Secretaries to forward monthly notes on! all matters of interest, with a view' to providing a means of communication between hospitals, and assisting to unite .the hospital service. The article goes on to say that though the Department ' can hardly insist that such Contributions should bB furnished, it can, and does, expect that requests contained iti the 'Journal' in connexion .with ordinary administration matters shall be attended to. In the February number of the Journal,' page 122j secretaries wet-e requested to forward to the Department a copy of th© Boards' by-laws, so that ii complete set might be avail-' able for comparison and reference. With vbry few exceptions this request was entirely ignored, and is therefore now repeated;" The concluding paragraph in the editorial referred to states that ; "In view of the lack-of interest taken in tiie 'Journal,' the Department has -under consideration the reduction of the pages from sixteen to eight, consisting mainly of statistical matter of interest, if not to out own Boards, at least to public health and other authdHties in other parts of the world, many of whom havo written letters and articles expressing thoir appreciation of the nublication."