A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 302, 10 September 1918, Page 5

A WEEK OF THE WAR

j j SMASHING THE GERMAN SWITCH-LINE , 1 OPERATIONS IN OTHER THEATRES i , The Acting-Prime Minister (tho. Hon. 1 Sir James Allen) has received from the Ministry of Information the following telegraphic summary of ivar operations for the week ended September 6: — On August 30, in spite of heavy counter-attacks, wo continued to press i tho German retirement towards the line of the. Oise-Sommo Canal. A brilliant night attack on August 3D was carried out by tho Australians on the southern (? northern) portion of this line, and they forced crossings over the canal north of Pcronnc, and captured the strongly-fortified position of Mont 'St. Qucntin with extraordinarily small losses, and held it against seven coun-ter-attacks. The immediate and satisfactory effect was to hasten the onemy's withdrawal further north from tho old Sonnno hattlefield. Particularly successful operations took place on September 2 on au eight-mile front south of the Scarpe. The attack was made early in the morning, forestalling a German counter-offensive, by the Canadian Corps, with four divisions, and the 17th Corps. The latter included the 52nd (Lowland Territorial Division), famous for its magnificent advance last. October after the Battle of Gaza along the coast almost to the ga.tes of Jerusalem; the 63rd (Naval) Division, and the West Lancashire and London Territorial Divisions. This determined attack resulted in a complete penetration of the Drocourt-Queant switch and tho withdrawal of the heavily-punished enemy to the Canal du Nord. In spite of the obstacle which this canal forms to tank attacks, our determined army succeeded in crossing it in several places. They took a large number of prisoners and much material. Losing their famous switch must produce a considerable moral effect on the enemy. In the Lys salient a steady withdrawal is going on, and tho enemy is closely followed by British and American troops. On the French front a steady enemy withdrawal has taken place to the lino of the Somme-Olse Canal, and the French obtained a footing on the east side in tho neighbourhood of Noyon. Heavy fighting has been going on north of Soissons, between tho Aisne and the Ailette, particularly in tho neighbourhood of Juvigny and Terny Sorny, where the' American troops have been operating. A considerable advauce lnis been made, and the enemy has commenced to withdraw across the Aisne. The approximate number of prisoners taken by the British since August 1 is 70,000, and by the French and Americans 40,000, with extraordinarily small losses to the Allies ; in tlio British caso tho losses do not greatly exceed the number of prisoners taken. This is possibly attributable to the temporary lowering of the fighting, value of the enemy 'and tho disorganisation inevitable from retreat on a large scale undertaken under relentless pressure. Tlio German High Command seems so far to have kept control of the situation, but ib, incurs grave risks by its heavy demands on the troops. The withdrawal, though hasty, has been carried . out methodically, but much material has been lost. The secondary Theatres. In Albania so far Austrian reinforcements have prevented the Italians maintaining their gains, but t-lioy still hold the Malakastra Ridge, jind have a. better position than before the offensive. In Palestine recently-raised Indian battalions have acquitted themselves well in minor operations.

Tho Jnpaneßo in the Usuri offensive north of Vladivostok have driven the enemy back' to the River Bikin, south, of Khabarovsk. Tho situation in China is still obscure. The Czechs have probably obtained control of tho transSiberian railway.

The Finnish Army is mutinous nncl discontented, and feeling against the Allies is strengthening. The Germans aro pushing forward communications, roads, and railways toward Pochega and the White Sea. This German exploitation of Finland is causing lruch bitterness. . '

A considerable success is reported in East Africa. Von Lettow lias been driven off the Lioma. During his attempted flights in various directions, ho was further attacked by the British, jand sustained considerable loss, and ho is now being pursued in a north-east-erly direction towards the Lurion lliver. His total forces, though considerably reduced, may still give troubld.

The week has been marked.by.steady and persistent' work in all theatres.

The War in the h\r.

There lias been intense British air fighting between the Scarpe and the Somme, but a period of unsettled weather is hampering aerial operations, l'rior to the brilliantly successful British attack upon the enemy _defences from Droeourt to Queant, British airmen were able on September 1 to thoroughly explore the field of the impending battle, take a large number of photographs, and make valuable ieports upon the enemy's strength and dispositions. Seventy-two tons of bombs were dropped during three days immediately preceding the attack on the enemy's organisation behind the "Wotan (switch) line, including the vital railways. Over 240 tons of bombs wero dropped 011 tlio battle area during the week. British fighting scouts took part in the assault on Monday morning, and co-operated closely with the infantry and tanks. A notable feature of the fighting has been the destruction and havoc caused to the enemy by .lowflying British a'irmen. who, regardless of personal danger, silenced enemy batteries, attacked strongly-cist-ronched posts, and rendered invaluable assistance to the troops by supplying ammunition to advanced units. The enemy's aerial activity was chiefly defensive, but many fierce aerial combats took place, resulting in the destruction of 58 enemy machines and the driving down of 30. Fifty-eight British machines are reported missing. Iu Lho coastal area successful operations were carried out against German naval and submarine liases at Bruges, Ostsud, and Zeehruggo, and against manyiniportant enemy organisations at Nieiiport, AYeslende, lilankenberg, Dudzeole, etc., where good results were seen. Destructive fires were started at the Ostend docks and dumps at Dudzeele. fifteen lons, of bombs wero dropped during these raids: one enemy machine was destroyed, and 110 British machines are reported missing; The B.A.F. Independent Force twice attacked the Buhl aerodrome, and direct lilts were obtained nil hangars, ono machine in the aerodrome itself .being destroyed. Tho force, also attacked the Boulay aerodrome, and started a. large fire. Successful bombing raids wero made on Friday, _ August 30, on tho important railway junctions of Coflatts and Thionvillo. _ Useful 1 air work was accomplished during tho week in tho Mediterranean and eastern theatres. Tliroo enemy machines were destroyed 011 the Italian front, and there was on unusual amount, olf reconnaissance activities and photograph. taking. One British machine is reported missing. EJTcetive bombing raids have been carried out in the Balkans. Two enemy machines were destroyed in .Palestine during hvelv fighting. The activities of the British seaplanes, aeroplanes, and airships cooperating with the Navy in Homo waters and distant seas havo produced excellont results. Tlio British Food Outlook. The early thrashing reports show a lower yield thou WR 6 anticipated. The

Food Controller, speaking fit Derby on September 2, snid that, notwithstanding tlie bountiful harvest, no relaxation of the food restrictions and economies was possible. The peoplo must remember tho need for ships to transport American troops to France. It ivas hoped to remedy tho fruit shortago by using vegetable marrows at fixed prices for jam, and also blackberries collected by school childron. The prico of wheat is unchanged, but an increase is allowed of two shillings a quarter for barley, and three shillings a quarter. (for oats is allowed to cover the increased .cost of production. The estimated profit from the national restaurants is 70 per cent., and it is_ proposed to economise fuel in the winter by oxtending the service to the kitchens of restaurants.

Germany's War ■ Politics. ■ The attitude of Southern Germany is reported as depressed, hut doggedly determined. The Allies' success will strengthen the arguments for a defensive wiir. Germany is adopting a more conciliatory lone in dealing with neutrals. Au article in. the "l'rankfurter Zeitung" emphasises the economical dependence of Belgium upon Germany. It attributes the spoliation at Belgium to the_ necessity of war, assumes that Belgium must resume trado relations, and asserts that all Belgians will favour the complete neutrality of their country and, its independence from the Entente. There has been a hitch in the negotiations between I'olaivd and Germany. A Bulgarian refiort states that iUalinov is to meet von Hintze (German Foreign Minister) and Talaat Bey (Turkish Grand Vizier) to discuss , the Near Eastern situation. They will probably attempt to launch a peace offensive on the Allies' weakest front.

The Rumanian harvest is bad exceptthe Zltania (?), where the Central Powers have requisitioned the supplies, thus violating the economic agreement 'with Rumania. Revolts following this action will doubtless he suppressed with the customary German brutality. There is confusion in Russia, and the rapidly disintegrating Government threatens wholesale murder lor the attempted assassination of Lenin. The British Embassy was attacked on August'3l by Bolshevik troops, and the British Naval Attache was assassinated and his corpse was treated abominably and refused proper burial. The Embassy was destroyed, and the French Embassy fears 'a similar attack. The Bolsheviki aro already encouraging the populace to massacre the British and French.