PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

« The French report to-day a successful stroke on the Vordun \'ront, east of the Mouse. Enemy firsfl and second line positions have been captured on a two-mile front, and as reports stand 800 prisoners have been gathered in. In this area, as well as west of the Meusc, the French have now recovered the greater part of the ground captured by the enemy at enormous cost in his offensive last year. The extensive Bois de Caurcsi in which some of the positions now captured are located, crosses the line on which tho German offensive opened. The French, however, are still a mile or more short of this line. The attack, which appears to havo been entirely successful, is a further indication that tho Allies intend to prosecute tho offensive with vigour d.Uring the winter.

Heavy fighting is still in progress in tho region of Cambrai, and the British have made an important addition to tho gains secured in the rccont offensive thrust. -After a swaying struggle they arc in full possession of Bourlon village, four miles west of Cambrai, and of a dominating hill in the adjacent Boittrlon Wood. Events following upon the main British attack afford very striking proof of the enemy's inferiority. His initial defeat was

duo in part to surprise, but ho has now had time to rally and to bring up heavy reinforcements. In these conditions he lias ken heavily defeated in a contest on even terms for positions which he evidently regards as vital.

A late message states that tho Germans havo recaptured portion of Bourlon village, but tho essential position, upon which the struggle in this area centred, is the high ground in the neighbouring wood, and this remains in British hands. The samo message mentions that in all closo on ten thousand prisoners have been captured since the attack was launched. The capture of 100 guns, including a number of the heaviest calibre, had already been announced. There is little doubt that in its total scope the defeat is one of the heaviest ever inflicted upon tho enemy at a given cost.

* r, * * Most of the news from Italy today is hopeful in tone, but the correspondents who most freely applaud the splendid stand made by the Italians and the enemy's terrible losses also emphasise tho fact that the struggle is far from being over. Reports snow that the Italians are still outclassed in artillery—they are being bombarded in some places with their own shells from their own guns lost in the retreat—and it is possible that their losses in the present battle are as heavy as those' of the enemy, if not heavier. The enemy will certainly spare no sacrifice in his final effort to break into tho Venetian Plain, for if ho fails he will find himself badly placed and in his turn dangerously exposed to attack by the Italians in combination with their Allies. Much, of course, depends upon tho time at which this junction of forces is likely to be effected, but at the moment there is no information on the point.

The reduction in tho marine insurance rate in the submarine zono iust announced by the American War Bisks Bureau is all the moro significant since it follows on a reduction made last month, and tho policy of the Bureau has throughout been cautious. In July last it raised its rates from 5 to 6.5 per cent. This was regarded as somewhat excessive, but the Bureau intimated that tho lower rate was inadequate as it had sustained a niumbcr of heavy losses. In October, however, it reduced the rate to 5 per cent., a reduction of 25 per cent., and a further reduction has now been mado to 4 per cent. There is no doubt that the operations of the Bureau are of representative Value as indicating the declining effect of tho submarine campaign. The scope of the commerce covered is great. Up to June 30 nearly £125,000,000 in shipping and tonnago had been insured, and by this time the amount must have been enormously increased. *.* * *

Something has been heard recently of an organised effort in Germany to greatly expand the output of munitions during the winter, but reports received in America by way of Copenhagen some time ago_ declared that the German authorities were experiencing difficulty in preventing a. falling off in the production of munitions owing to the lowering of the working capacity of the individual, under-fed workmen and the scarcity of certain raw materials, notably the rarer metals used in the manufacture of highgrade steels. There have been persistent reports that'nickel was embarrassingly short in Germany. It is doubtful also if Germany will be able to keep pace with further increases in Anglo-American production, if, indeed, it is now even holding its own. Eeliahlo reports from widely separated sectors of the Western front say that the German artillery has strict orders to sparo ammunition \in every way po'ssible. These stories have been officially denied in Germany, but they carry an air of probability.