Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

The local activities which have formed the burden of tho reports from the "West front for some time past, have almost without excoption been carried out, by tho Allies, the enemy confining his efforts to artillery bombardments. To-day's reports, however, indicate that the Germans are bestirring themselves, local encounters having taken place at various parts of tho front, while tho hostile gunfire appears to have been more pronounced than usual. There is no definite indication that this increase in the enemy's activity is tho prelude to the opening of the third phase of the offensive, but the correspondents at the front are unanimously of the opinion that the blow cannoc longer be clelayed, and as the whole »

citn.ition demands that the Germans push on with their offensive and endeavour to secure a decision before the scales hep: in to turn in favour of their ipponeuts. it, is probable that the local n.fiairs reported to-day are the preliminary operations to a renewal of fighting on a ianze .scale. Although interest naturally centres on the situation on the "\Vcst front, farther aiiekl events are occurring which may have mi important bearing o:i the progress oi the war. In Mesopotamia the Hritish aie steadily pushing ahead and :i:iviin; the -tirkisii forces hack to the Persian frontier, while there are indications that the lowi-threatened blow in the Italian theatre is at last developii'.cr. In Macedonia t!io enemy is also sliowins increased activity, a heavy bombardment of the French lines east .U Doiran bein£ reported. — {