THE CAMPAIGNS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17882, 30 August 1918, Page 4

THE CAMPAIGNS

The outstanding facts of the position is France are the comprehensive enemy retreat between the Somme and the Oise and the enemy's failure to stem iihe British advance between the Sensee and the Scarpe. North of the Somme the arrival of German reinforcements has, to a great extent, regularised the front, except on the sector of seven or eight miles south of the Scarpe, where dramatic developments are still possible, though scarcely probable. It is obvious that the enemy is bringing his reserves very rapidly into action now, th« tenacious defence of Oroisilles having gained an invaluable day or two, and in the normal course of events the front should shortly be rendered more stable where the Canadians have broken across the Hindenburg line to Boiry and Haucourt. The British certainly are making progress elsewhere north of the Somme, but it is no longer against weak divisions and more or less isolated parties. South of the Somme,' as far as the indications can be judged, the enemy maintains an unbroken continuity of front, but he has been compelled to make a drastic retreat under •French and British pressure, and tho latest communique from Sir Douglas Haig mentions that he is fighting strongly in front of the bridgeheads at Peronne and Brie. This does not 'mean that the upper Somme line ha 3 .hee)n reached, but it is to be presumed iithat the Germans are falling back to Ifthat line, seeing that they have alfieady retreated on Nesle. Bapaume (remains the key to the whole position. "The question of immediate interest is !wb«th«r the enemy, has been able, out of the economies effected by tho shortening of his front, to build up a I reserve of any strength in addition to nthe reserves that have had to be employed in restoring the front north of the Somme. On that point we have j nothing but surmises to offer.. If such

a reserve exists it may bo used in a counter-stroke, provided th© Allies give the enemy the opportunity to organise such an effort. The probability is that no opportunity of the kind will occur, even though the retreat does restoro to Hindenburg a partial control over the situation. The Allied policy has been to launch alternating blows in quick succession, first in the south, then in the north. A thrust by Humbert or Mangin, or by Gouraud in Champagne, is therefore the normal continuationleaving out of consideration for the moment the portions of the French front that have not hitherto been affected by the big fighting. The enemy's retreat has perhaps deprived Humbert of the opportunity of attacking, but Mangin is still in a position to strike, either between the Ailette and tho. Aisne or on tho Vesle, and an offensive in Champagne is obviously possible. Interest in the meantime attaches to the course of the great battle, which has by no means come to an end.