THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1918. THE ANCRE-OISE FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 217, 15 August 1918, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1918. THE ANCRE-OISE FRONT.

The messages received between the times of writing yesterday and earl, to-day disclose nothing much more than very hard fighting on the Anglo French front between the Anere, just south of Albert, and the Avre, : little west of where it runs closely past Roye. So far as the report; localise the struggle the allied lim has not been appreciably advancer anywhere between these two points The advantages already gained, how ever, even should they not be furthe’ and immediately improved, are well worth the effort entailed. The net line secured nortlf of the Somme very appreciably weakens the Gei man position there, rendering it diffi cult for them to retain any of the high ground in, the Somme-Ancrc angle—if, indeed, they have not al ready been deprived wholly of it—and giving the Allies command ol crossings of the larger river almost essential to the success of any flanl attack upon the salient that is being created by them further south. Thi situation at Chaulnes is still provokingly doubtful, for, while om message speaks of the possibility ol its being held a day or two longer by the Germans, another, of little latei date, again tells us of heavy fighting in progress eastward of it. It is sug gesteci that possibly confusion arise! from the fact that the town does noi lie immediately at the point of t-hc big railway junction, but a mile oi so westward of it, and that, al though the former may be in our occupation, we may still be fighting for actual possession of the junc tion. In any event, there is n< doubt with regard to the occupancy >f the high ground about Lihons, a mile or so west of Chaulnes town, and that, it would appear, dominate.! the general position in this locality.

On the sector between the Avre and the Oise, where the French attack is under the direction of General Humbert, the Germans are also offering a desperate resistance, but not with so much apparent success, so far as holding up the advance is concerned. Our Allies have made, is not substantial—as measured by kilometres—still quite appreciable progress towards t-lio reduction of Lassigny into their own hands. In fact, as we write, a message arrives stating that "it is understood” the town has been taken. This, however, is altogether too vague a way of putting the announcement to make it finally acceptable. In any event, it would seem as if the French were now really the complete masters oi the lofty ground dominating this valuable communication centre, ana thqit the prophet who this morning held out tropes of its evacuation by the enemy "within forty-eight hours' is more likely to be right than the other who, at the same time, stated that it would take "several days” before the French could work down tne slopes to the town. Whether Lassiguy is yet in their hands er not, tne French have achieved a very line success in most difficult country, and we may rely on their pressing their advantage to the utmost. -It is still evident that General Humbert sees no need at present to exercise any great pressure by his right wing stretching to the Oise, relying upon .t that tne enemy there wnl have to withdraw in conformity with the French advance further west, or else risk a flank attack upon an ugly little salient- position, with the river practicaliy in the rear of his delence. It was in recognition of this danger that we heard yesterday of the Germain withdrawal from the loop of the Oise a little south of Kibccourt. To-day's announcement that the French have advanced their line a little north of the village of Lanibronne, near the river, merely means that they have occupied tne ground abandoned by the enemy. In considering the worth of the work already accomplished by the Allies m this latest offensive a very forward place must be given to the immense amount of war material and supplies that has been taken. Having in mind the difficulties under which the Germans labour with regard to raw materials and foodstuffs, these captures must be ranked as almost on a par with the nrisoners taken.