PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Fnosi the latest information On the subject 'available at time of writing it is evident that the enemy has thus far made no headway in his local attacks in Flanders, though he has developed them in considerable force and suffered heavy losses. Both in the vicinity of Scherpenberg, the northern flank position of the hill-chain held by the Allies in Southern Flanders, and at Dickelnisch Lake, a little farther north, the Allied lino where it was penetrated has been re-established. Although these operations are overshadowed for the time being by tho great battle in progress south of the Aisne the enemy, as matters stand, has suffered a defeat of some magnitude. The scale of his unsuccessful effort and of the losses it iuvolvcd is indicated in Sir Douglas Haig's statement that four German divisions lost heavily. Apparently these divisions were all engaged in the neighbourhood of Dickebusch Lake, while others were attacking farther south.

The general purpose of the enemy's attacks in Flanders is to widen oub the Lys salient and break into the open country in rear of thc_ high ground still held by the Allies. At Dickebusch Lake he was striking directly at. the southern neck of the Ypres salient which now projects somewhat acutely from the Allied line. Generally speaking the Allies have an obvious incentive to firmly hold their ground in Flanders in 'the necessity of protecting vital communications and preserving an'adequate area of deployment from the Channel ports; but if the enemy again throws his full power into an offensive in Flanders it may become necessary to evacuate the Ypres salient. As matters stand it represents an element rather of weakness than of strength in the line; for all the ground it contains is low-lying and 'dominated from higher positions held by the enemy. In their latest attacks,' however, the Germans failed absolutely to alter the situation to their advantage.

A report just received shows that the Germans are still advancing south of the Aisne, though on a narrower front than that on which their offensive opened. They have at spme points crossed the' Vesle, a tributary which enters the Aisne about half a dozen miles cast of Soissons, but for a distance of ten miles runs approximately parallel to the main river at a distance of five or, six miles to the south. Bazoches and Fismes, named as two of the points at which the Vesle has been crossed, are situated • three miles apart, towards the western end of the present battlefrdnt and about six miles south of the Aisne. These developments lend colour to the statement of a correspondent that the Germans are throwing heavy reinforcements into the- battle, but the theory of a diversion in the Aisne region as tho prelude to a more powerful attack farther north is not yet invalidated.

I. hoof that the Americans arc now to be accounted an appreciable clement in the- Allied strength is given in news of a successful attack west of Montdidiev, one of the junctions gained by the enemy south of the- Sommc, in which the United States troops broke into the opposing positions on a front of a mile and a. quarter. No details are given except that tanks were employed but the success gained in such a sector implies that the attack was shrewdly driven home.