THE FAN

Evening Star, Issue 16398, 14 April 1917, Page 9

THE FAN

OPENING OUT THE CAP. fresh developments. AMERICAN NAVAL HELP. WOODEN SHIPS. [By CiuTions/] The weather continues bad on the west kout, and Sir Douglas Haig is reported k> be busy moving forward his guns for tiro next stroke, so there is not "a great deni of fresh fighting reported around Arras. But we have stormed the villages of Heninel and Wanecourt, on the little river Cojliul, five miles ,south-west of Arras, and captured the heights on the eastern hank of the river. We have also made some progress north of the River Scarne. winch runs east from Arras, and have gamed ground to tho east of the Yirnv Ridge, ihe little villages of Givenclrv-en-Gohello and Petit Yinry arc still in ■German hands. Petit Yimy lies on the castcin slope of tho ridge just to the west of the Arras-Lens road. It is about four nn.es couth-west of Lens ami a mile or «o west of Vinry, while Givenchv-en-Go-bello lies about a mile to the north of it. These strongly fortified positions block for tho moment our advance upon Lens. Admiration is expressed by the critics at Paris for what arc called “the new British tactics.” It is pointed out that out' front of attack is widened as our attack progresses, opening out like a fan. instead of narrowing, as in previous allied offensives. It is true that we arc striking in a south-easterly direction in tho neighborhood of Cambrai and in a north-casterlv direction in the neighborhood of Lons, thus tending to widen out the .gap in the enemy’s line; but these tactics can hardlv he rolled new. Exactly the same procedure was followed during the AngloFrench offensive nn the Somme. As the Somme attack proceeded and successive German Hires were carried the direction of the British blows gradually shifted, until instead of duo east they were delivered to the north-east ami even due north ; while the direction of the French attacks was gradually swung round to the south-east, .thus a fanlike front was developed, and the gap in the German line was gradually widened. Much the same procedure is apparently being followed at 'Arras. On the other hand, it is undoubtedly true that we attacked on too narrow a front during our earlier offensives, with the result that our attacking forces were unduly exposed to enfilading fire. EXTENDING THE FRONT.

As regards this question of the extent of front attacked, inter communiques contain some rather surprising news. Sir Douglas Haig reports that' on the night of the 12th wo attacked between Cambrai and St. Quentin, capturing positions on a ■wide front extending from northward of Hargiconrt to iMetz-en-Couture. Hareicourt lies 10 miles north-west of St. Quentin, and. Metz-en-C'outiiiv lies about seven miles north-west of Hargiconrt. We have captured Sart Farm, Goucho Wood, and Gouzeaucourt village and wood Exactly what this signifies it is impossible to sav until we get fuller details : but if it indicates the opening of an attack as effective as that near Arras, it will mean that the IroiiD ot our grand offensive has been extended from 12 miles to nearly 55 miles. It would seem more probable that it is only a. subsidiary attack, directed towards the ultimate surrounding of Cambrai and St. Quentin. The French also have attacked between the Somme and tlm Obcapturing several lines of trenches between the Somme and the La Ferc-St. Quentin road. South of the Oise tiiev have progressed eastward of Coucyda-Yille. INSIDE KNOWLEDGE.

Professor Bidou, tho famous military critic of the ‘Journal des Debats,’ lias been forecasting in ‘Hand and Water’ Hindenhurgs pians for 1917... He asserts that the German medium artillery will reach perfection in June, if they can avoid defeat until them,” and also that “ the Gev mans intend to refuse battle and yield ground when the offensive is disclosed, and thus gain several weeks before a new attack is possible.” How individual critics obtain such categorical knowledge 'of Hindenburg’s plans is a constant puzzle, seeing that the allied General Staffs themselves are not acquainted with them. The above prediction, moreover, turns out to have been unfortunate, because tho Germans are accepting battle: and though they are yielding ground, it is because they are being thrown back. The same critic gives a detailed account of Hindenburg’s plans and preparations, the main item is to be an offensive in the west, for which the retreat was but a preliminary. Tho offensive is going to be conducted by masses of manoeuvre, which Hindenburg intends to provide “ bv deducting the fourth regiments from the divisions, a reorganisation which will produce 13 new divisions, armed with extremely powerful artillery.” This device of creating something out of nothing bv reshuffling regiments is a favorite one with the critics. But there is very little likelihood of a German offensive iii the west, as a Hindenburg has too much on his hands. He is completely outmatched at Arras in men and artillery, and the French have not yet struck their blow. What would he, the use of undertaking an offensive against enemies who are overwhelmingly superior in numbers and artillery, a”id who hold, in addition, almost complete command of the air? AMERICAN HELP.

America is taking charge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Carribean Sea. The Carribean is the sea which washes the eastern shores of Central America. This-will take a big burden off the British Xavy. and enable us to concentrate upon home waters. Moreover, Admiral Sims, of the American navy, has arrived in London to discuss the best methods of co-operation between the British and American fleets. Everything indicates that the American navy is going I°. put its fidl energies into the work. Ad" miral Sims, by the way, is one of the mostnotable of American naval men. He was responsible for introducing the fnmn-rv methods devised by Sir Percy Scott into the American navy, and has done exceptionally good work in many other directions.

From San Francisco comes a report which appears to have official sanction, that submarines aro operating in the PreifL probably off the Mexican coast. " This "report is. no doubt, responsible for the jumo in Pacific insurance rates, which have increased 100 per cent. But it docs not seem very probable that German fu l>marines can operate in tlia Pacific, even with the connivance of Mexico. To vet 'there they would have to journey right round Cape Horn, and it is doubtful if even the biggest of' them are capable of such a voyage under present circumstances. WOODEN SHIPS. President Wilson is said to be of oninion that he can best help the Allies by proriding an armada of merchantmen to counteract the submarine campaign. This is undoubtedly true. It is stated that a fleet of wooden ships of 2.0C0 tons and upwards are to be built, the first vear’c production to average three shins daily. If this can bo carried out it will bo of enormous assistance, and will bring into play fresh resources of material and "labor, without putting any additional strain on the steel trade. _ The chief obstacle is likely to be the difficulty of providing the necessary_ supplies of ' seasoned timber. America is a great timber-producing country} hut the timber employed for ships needs first to be well seasoned. At the outbreak of the war of 1812 the American naval, yards were badly handicapped in building bjy the fact that a short-sighted Administration had sold out a great part of the supplies ox seasoned timber, and had neglected to replace them. SOME MISTAKE. An Australian cable credits Mr Hughes with the asserted that 'Britain’s shipping losses are occurring at the rate of 600,000 tons a month faster than they can he There is obviously a mistake here, as it is probable that the total losses

of all the belligerents' and neutrals only readi about that figure. What Mb Hughes probably said was tliab shipping losses amount to 600,000 tons per month, and that this is higher than the rate at which they can be replaced.

OTHER POSSIBLE BELLIGERENTS. Our hopes of gaining the assistance ot many of the neutrals are rising rapidly. Brazil, the Argentine, and Uruguay are all reported mobilising for war with Germany, and they can all give assistance in a email way, especially in keeping down commerce destroyers. The two first-named Mates, however, are likely to have trouble with their large populations of German descent. General Carranza has assured the United 'States that no embargo will be placed upon Mexican oil supplies, and that looks as if Mexico intends to remain neutral and decline to be rued as a German cats paw. Spain is likely to abandon her neutrality because of the sinking of tho ban Fulgencio. no details of which have yet been cabled. Spain, Brazil, and the Argentine have each a fair-sized navy, winch can give substantial aid in escorting merenantmeu and keeping tho seas clear. Brazil has seized all German vessels interned in her ports (there are 27, amounting to 142,511 tons), and is arming all her merchantmen. °