PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

At tirao of writing the bare statement madG in one message that a bir battlo has begun on .the Italian front is not amplified or confirmed except by an Austrian report which speaks of "fighting activity with considerable violence on the whole Italian front." Thore is no reason to doubt that fighting has opened on a big scale, but as yet no real light is cast upon the situation. According to one message, advices from Rome stats that German units are concentrated witli Ausfcrians on the Trcntino front, but it seems most unlikoly that in the present state of lior affairs in tho Western theatre Germany will detail any largo force to act against Italy. Evidcnco is in conflict regarding the numbe-v «f German divisions omployed in Italy last year—some authorities hold that as many as ten were used, and others maintain that the number

was smaller—but in any case it is fairly certain that Germany stands deliuitcly in need of every available 1 division in tbe Western tbeatre. In its reference to the Trcntino this message implies that the enemy is expectcc'. to resume his attempt to outflank the Italian lino along the Piave by an advance from the mountains. Ho camo dangerously close to this achievement last winter, but tho Italians in brilliant counterattacks recovered some of tho most importmt peaks they had lost near the edge of the mountain country. They have since had time to strengthen a lino which when it was first taken up had obvious weaknesses; they have had time also to make good some at least of their artillery losses, and their burdens of defence are shared by French and British divisions. The British troops in Italy are now stationed on the Asiago Plateau, and will play an early part if tho enemy resumes tho offensive in the Trentino region. It is, of course, possible that the Allies may tako the initiative. A limited offensive, with a view to improving their line and keeping a considerable enemy forco engaged, is cpiite within the bounds of possibility, though it is commonly _ assumed that so far as the immediate future is concerned the Allies will be con. cent, in Italy as in tho Western theatre, to await the enemy's attacks.

«■ # * * It is reported that as a result of the latest inter-Allied war council General Foch's authority as Generalissimo has been extended to the Italian front. Hitherto it has been limited to the Allied front in France and Inlanders, but tho development now announced is natural in view of tho relations existing between Italy and her Allies and the exchange of forces that has already taken place. ♦ # # * Intense aorial fighting and much bombing of positions _ ochind the onemy lines aro tho principal events in the Western theatre officially reported at time of writing, but a correspondent states that the Germans have resumed the attempt in which they failed so disastrously on Monday last to master the hill positions which now buttress the Allied line in Southern Flanders. Thero is much apparent forco in thi observation made in an official review which appears to-day that in his Flanders offensive tho enemy is involved in an enterprise which it was not intended to develop on such a scale. Successfully continuing his offensive from the positions east of Amiens which he gained at very heavy cost, he would gain all that he can hope to gain by the most pronounced success in Flanders. The change of attacking front obviously iiuplien that ho is doubtful of his ability to push forward towards Amiens, and that he is finding his task much heavier than he had hoped. It should not bo supposed, however, that tho northern attack bears only on tho fate of the Ypres salient. In the north., as in his initial drive, the enemy is evidently intent on reaching the coast, and his success in Flanders would have only less serious consequences for the Allies than if he gained his end in the Amiens region. * * # « . It was reported at the end of last week that the Turks had effected a surprise attack upon a British force guarding one of the crossings of the Jordan and had captured some horse artillery guns. Tho affair seemed to be of minor importance and to threaten no serious interruption in the favourable course of the campaign. This view is homo out today by the news that tho enemy attacking forco has already been driven across the Jordan.