PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Late news yesterday showed thiifc the enejiiy had effected it further advance in the centre of the front on which he jk attacking between Montdidicr find Noyon, .but tho latest reports. in hand at time of writing indicate that he has made little fur-' ther progress. On the central part of the front of twenty miles he is now about seven miles beyond his starting point. At one stago lie advanced another two miles to tho south, reaching the Uiver Aronde in a locality about five miles distant from the railway junction of Compiegnc to the south-east and another junction, Estrces St. Denis, to the south-west. On this lino of advance, however, tho enemy was driven back two miles.or more by a French counter-attack—an effort notable- in its result and as an indication of the vitality of the defence. On the wings of his attacking front the enemy has been much less successful. On his left, in particular, south of Moatdidicr, he has been solidly held, but on his right, towards the valley of the Oise, he has made a. little more progress. For a distance of several miles, to tho neighbourhood of llibecourt, the French are holding a rather narrow strip of territory along the west bank of the Oise, and the enemy advance in this region is at the samo time giving a salient formation to French positions on the other side of the river. A limited retirement on both banks of the, Oise may liecome necessary, but in tho main the Allies arc shown to he making a magnificent defensive stand. A French communique just received indicates that the counter-attack on the western and central portion of the front was even more successful than earlier reports indicated.

■ Such references as are made to the appearance of additional enemy forces in. the battle suggest that the recent statement that there are fifty German divisions still in reserve already calls for material modification, and is likely to call for further modification in the near future if the battle continues on its present lines. That the Germans have developed their offensive to its present point without using Austrian troops or requiring their allies to open an offensive against Italy is at an immediate view surprising, and certainly lends colour to current reports that the Dual Monarchy is finding itself increasingly ■ hampered in its military affairs by tho prevalence of political disorders. It is possible (hat the Austria'ns. are being held in reserve in the French theatre, but unless Germany departs from her customary procedure she is more likely to employ available Austrian troops in the spade-work of the offensive than to hold them -back for a culminating effort. * * * # _ Interesting references to the mobilisation and transportation of American troops arc made in files just received by mail. It is indicated that something over 100,000 men per month will be transported to_ France, and that there will be a 1 million American troops "in France I before tho end of the summer. This, of co irse, does not mean that, an army 0/ anything like that size will be available this year, but oil the other hand the arrangement under which Americans will be brigaded | with Allied troops will make them much more speedily available than would have been possible in other circumstances. In this connection a Washington correspondent remarks that the decision to brigade American troops of less than divisional strength with the British and French relieves the Unitqd States Government temporarily of the necessity of sending over'immediately non-combatant organisations, as well a.v equipment am 1 supplies, and makes way for the shipment of fighting units. "While it will bo always necessary to maintain the auxiliaries in i„ true proportion, to the fighting men, in order that, the. front may be amply supported at all times, the proportion of fighting men going forward hereafter will he larger than ever before." Dealing with the question of man-power on broader lines, the same correspondent states that, in all, the United States should have under arms more than 2,225,000 men by December :J1 of this year, and a goodly proportion of these should be in France, "fnstead of agreeim? on the specific number to which the Armv should be enlarged." he adds, "the War Department really wants authority to create as big an Army as it can, without limit of any kind, or the necessity for making repeated rccuiests for legislation in the future. As big an Army as it is possible to train_ and transport—this is the unanimous desire of the General Staff, the Secretary of War, the Cabinet, and tho President," '