THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

The capture of Thiepval and of Combles, following on tho .brilliant advance of British and French on Sunday, has completed the conquest of the' main German defensive system between Perqnne and Bapaymc. Whatever the character of the fighting for the future may bo it can scarcely be credited that beyond the ridge now carried in its entirety tho Germans can have constructed systems of defence as •laborate and as powerful as that on which they had lavished such shill and

"labour during tho last couple of years. A plan of this system, prepared, pre- .. gumftbly, from aviators’ observations, ■hows that it extended to a depth of at least five miles along the whole front, with supporting trenches And fortlficAtions to a depth.of another mile. '. ; «• '

A great double trench, with branches, fortified works and dense entanglements stretched along the crest of the ridge from tho Ancro above Thiepval to tho north of Pozieres and by Bazentin le Petit to Longuoval, Guillemont and Ginchy. This was the backbone of the whole system, but the plan bliows continuous lines as far away as b iers and Eaucourt—a village that is now immediately north of the new British

front. It has taken three months of hard fighting to overcome tho resistance in this remarkably fortified area, and the Gormans have displayed then* traditional tenacity in the defence, but we have now the satisfaction of know-

ing that the backbone of the resistance has been shattered and that what is to come in tho way of fighting can hardly approximate what is past. Wo know that another strong system of entrenchments 1 has been feverishly prepared along tho Bapaumo road to Peronne, but the French aro already

across that road at Rancourt and Bouohavesnes, and at Morval, Lesbccufs and Gueudecourt the British aro little more than a mile away. Wo are encouraged to hope for oven greater successes because we know that tho enemy has been given little time to perfect new defences. His divisions havo been engaged ceaselessly in fighting, and though he has Summoned support from all sectors in the west and from all his basos and depots, his formations have been shattered in turn. We may even ho justified in presuming Irom the rapidity of the latest advance and the collapse of tho resistance m

Combles and Thiepval that the morale of the Germans is badly shaken. The great advance of the Allies has lengthened the front? compelling tho enemy to employ more and more divisions in the' actual firing line, and the incessant fighting has used up his reserves at an enormous rate. There aro a few weeks left before tho winter sots in, arid if those weeks provide a spell ol fine weather—not an unusual condition —the heroic labours of tho Allies' may yet be crowned with a dramatic and decisive victory in tho western thcatro,

a victory comparablo in effect with that in the battle of the Marno or with the defeat of the tremendous German offensive against Verdun. In view of tho important news from Franco the reports from tho other theatres appear to he of small consequenco, but what little news we havo is encouraging. The Russians aro still

attacking vigorously in Galicia, but as yet they havo no definite results to communicate. Tho Rumanian news ol tho past few days'suggests the possibility of large developments on tho northern front, while tho position in tho Dobrudja is satisfactory. Tho Macedonian situation shows no change of consequence.