PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 39, 9 November 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

In capturing the crown of tho Passchendacle JUdge tho Canadians have rounded off an achievement which is destined to heavily influenco the future courso of tho war. _ Tho achievement in its total scope is tho conquest of the immensely formidable dofensivo barrier which the enemy had organised in Flanders, and unquestionably it marks a long step towards victory. The broad facts of tho situation are by this timo fairly familiar. At leisure, and by an unsparing nso of labour and material, the Germans set themselves to convert tho ridgeß around the Ypres salient into an impregnable field fortress. A sound defence of this fortress was essential to safeguard the northern approaches to Lillo and their communications with tho 'Belgian coast. Continued possession of the coast line, upon which their submarine campaign is largely .based, and the stability of their Western line as it is now located, are both dependent upon a successful dofensive "stand in Western Flanders. It was with a clear perception of these facts that tho Germans made' their preparations to copo with the Allied offensive which opened with tho Battle 6f Kessines, and strove' by unsparing sacrifices to defeat it as it developed. They were _ favoured enormously by the possession of the fortified ridges overlooking tho low country on which tho British armies opened their assault, by their leisurely preparations, and by the narrow limits of the front on which they were attacked. The capture of tho orown of tho Passchendaelo Ridge affords final proof that in spite of all these advantages they are incapable of the unyieldifag defensive stand in Flanders upon which so muoh depends.

The conditions which so greatly favoured tho enemy in the opening stages of the British offensive havo been transformed, and if the. results of his defeat are not immediately mado apparent it will bo l only for the reason that an advance over the low ground beyond tho conquered ridges is impracticable while it is soaked and waterlogged by winter rains. Even if the offensive is not further developed this year to any material extent, the enemy armies in Flanders will spend the winter in dominated positions on the waterlogged plain, subjected to a punishing bombardment. Assuming, however, that, tho offensive is developed no further this year, it is most unlikely that tho Gormans will await a renewal of the attack next spring on the line to which they have now been driven. They are vory much in tho position in which they found themselves when the Battle of the Somme concluded last year. Their defensive organisation has 'beon broken up, and instead of tho formidable field fortress which they occupied in Juno they now hold hopelessly inferior position's. Unless matters turn strangely in some fashion at present unforeseen to their advantage, tho best course open to them will be to retreat before the offensive is resumed in _ full power next spring.' A retreat in Flanders would involve far heavier sacrifices than wero involved in the retreat from the Somme and Ancre, but it is likely to bo dictated by an even more compelling necessity.

Only remnants of the great field fortress in Flanders upon which the enemy relied now remain in his hands. Ho still holds descending spurs at tho northern end of the

Passehcndaolo Ridge, and south-east of Yprcs he retains the detached elevation round the village of Zandyoordc, where his batteries have been established for more than two and a half years. Another clement in his defensive organisation still to be reduced is the extensive Forest of Houthulsfc, on the southern verge of the inundated area which extends north and south of Dixmudc. French and British troops in concerted operations lately invaded the southern confines of the forest, and the French have moved round it for a distance on the west, but it still represents a somewhat serious obstacle to progress. On the whole, however, the enemy retains only fragments of the tremendous field fortress ho had developed in FTanders, and the advantage of ground he formerly enjoyed has passed to the Allies. Even if he should attempt to hold his ground.it is fairly certain that the armies which have accomplished so much this year will prove themselves capable, when good weather returns, of developing their success- by recovering the Belgian coast and making the advance on Lille from tho north which the Germans have striven so long to avert.

It has, of course, a vital bearing on the issues raised in Flanders that his defensive campaign this year has cost tho enemy enormous losses. Recently it was stated by Mr. H. Warner Allen (British correspondent at French Headquarters) that from August 1 to August 28 the Gormans had withdrawn from the Flanders battlefront thirty divisions, and had twelvo divisions .in line. ! On the Verdun front in the same • period they had withdrawn ten divisions and had seven in line. "Thus, in less than a month (he observes)! tho combined Allied offensivo in Flanders and on the banks of the Meuso has crippled forty German divisions and has forced the enemy to expose twenty more divisions to a similar fate." The drain upon the onemy's strength indicated in theso figures has probably been if anything intensified of late. His losses will certainly be enormous in tho circumstances in which he is now plated, in Flanders, with his defences dominated and his supply lines exposed to destructive bombardment. It is on all grounds extremely probable that ho will find himself compelled to, retire to a new lino before next spring, in spito of tho fact that the retirement will entail the abandonment ;>t tho Belgian coast and cannot be confined to Flanders.

* , * «• t / The Italian retreat is developing apace. _ It is officially, admitted that the retiring armios are falling back from the Tagliamento to the River Livcnza, which runs in its lower ooursc at a distance- of only 25 miles from Venice. The Germans state that they have already reached the Livcnza, and it seems quite likely that the retreat may presently extend to the' Eiver Piave, which approaches the coast at a distance of 15 miles from Venice.. The statemont is attributed to General Maurice that the withdrawal from the I'agliamento was part of tho original plan arranged by General Oadobna before reaohing that line. This somewhat improves the outlook, and' supplies a reason for the fact that French'and British reinforcements havo not yet taken up'an active part. The main point to be determined is whother the treachery and disaffection which led to tho initial disaster havo been weeded out of the Italian armies. If they have, a recovery is still quite possible in spite of the grave features of the existing situation.

In Palestine as well as in Flanders British forces are making splendid headway. To-day's news of ; tho Palestine offensivo largely speaks for itself. Bosidcs capturing tho Turkish main defensive line, including Gaza and Beersheba, the attacking army has mastered a second lino iurthor north, and as reports stand is pursuing a beaten and demoralised enemy.