PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 165, 2 April 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

« The outstanding feature of today's reports dealing with the great struggle in France is that the French have vigorously checked tho enemy's efforts to break through on the southern section of the battlefront. In the formidable thrusts which were reported in late news yesterday, the Germans made a certain amount of headway, and at the height of their success occupied the railway centre of Moreuil, which stands midway between the Somme and Montdidier. The nature of tho battle appears in tho fact that Moreuil changed hands four times, being finally recovered by the Allies in a bayonet charge in which French and British troops fought sido by side. The British, as reports stand, have recaptured Dcmuiu, a village north-east of Moreuil, and the French have recovered a number of villages further south. A swaying battle is still in progress, however, and one of the latest reports, in hand states that the Germans have captured Aubvillers. This means that the Germans arc persisting in their efforts to advance between Moreuil and Montdidier, and that in the intermediate area they are _ somewhat west of a line connecting these places. « * * * Further particulars of the battle fought on Thursday cast of Arras indicate that it was an even more disastrous affair from the German point of- view than earlier reports indicated. As it is described by Mr. Philip Gibbs, it resulted in a veritable massacre of the heavy German forces engaged. So far as official news is concerned, there is nothing to show that the Germans have done anything to redeem their Tiopelcss and costly failure- on this section of the front. An unofficial message just received states, however, that tihey ,havo captured Achicourt, This is exceedingly bad news if it is true, since Achicourt is a village or suburb on the southern outskirts of Arras itself. It seems probable, however, that the village gained by the Germans is not Achicourt, but Acheville, an outpost position on the line a few miles north-north-east of Arras. A War Office report to-day mentions that the British line has been advanced east of Feuchy, that is to say, to an area three miles east of Arras and at a somewhat greater distance east of Achicourt. This, no doubt, is the actual position. * * * * The transfer of the British army in Italy to the Asiago plateau affords a fairly plain indication that in spite of tho heavy demands now arising in France no reduction of the aid rendered by Britain to Italy is contemplated. It suggests also that the Allies are preparing to firmly defend the Italian front as it is now located against whatovcr attacks the enemy may develop. In its existing location the front has some serious disadvantages. From the point at which it leaves tho south-eastern frontier of tho Trentino it runs generally cast, nowhere far removed from tho edge of the mountain country, until it turns south-east down the Piave to the sea. Ono of its worst defects from the defensive point of view is' that the troops defending the northern sector of tho Piave lino are depend,ent upon main communications parallel toand at no great distance behind their front. A retreat, if it became necessary, would on this account be seriously hampered and endangered. The Italians, however, successfully defended the Piave line in the final phase of the enemy offensive which camo to an end last winter. Furthermore, in January last they recovered a number of peaks on the Asiago plateau where, as well as further east, tho' enemy had made dcsporatc_ efforts to open a road into the plain and outflank tho Piave line as a whole. * * * * Powerful though unsuccessful attacks aiming at this result wore the enemy's culminating efforts in his offensive. Presumably he will resume his attempts to open a door into the plain if ho presently resumes his offensive, and with this prospect open tho Asiago plateau constitutes one of tho most vitally important sections of the whole Italian front. Tho strength of the British force which has now been transferred to the Asiago plateau has not been disclosed, but that it is considerable is to bo inferred from the fact that it is led by General Plumer, who commanded the British Second Army in the Battle of Mcssincs and in subsequent operations in Flanders. I