NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17907, 28 September 1918, Page 8

NOTES ON THE WAR.

Interest has swung sharply back to tho western theatre, with the launching of a big offensive by the French and Americans from Rheims east as far as the Mouse. Foch is pursuing his former policy of thrusting hard at many points, and already ho has discovered weaknesses in tho German front. Whether he will be able to exploit them as British and French exploited their initial advantages west of tho Oise remains to bo seen. There were hints of a- movement northwards of Verdun in the straightening of the St Mihiel salient, the intention of winch, however, was not altogether obvious. Primarily tho battle in the salient may have been planned to test tho staff work of the new American forces, aud if that %vas the case it found tho new divisions particularly well led and controlled. But the rectification of tho Allied lino beyond the Meuso had a further intention. It removed a danger from the rear of forces advancing north of Verdun and at tho samo timo established a regular front from which an offensive might bo launched on tho German frontier. 'Die guess that Foch intended to strike northwards lies proved correct and tho sensational item of tho cur--3 ent news is that concerning the French and American thrust north-west of Verdun.

Sarrail's old defensive lino north of Verdun crossed the Meuse just north of Brabant, ran west through the Bois do Forges, and then a little in advance of tho road by Malancourt towards Varennes, on tho edge of tho Argonne. The Germans in 1916 drove tho French back from Malancourt and the Forges brook to the Mort HommeAvocottrt line. In June of last year the Crown Prince sought by a surprise attack, for which an enormous concentration of artillery had beon prepared, to force his *way through tho defenco to tho west of Hill 304, tho plan being, no doubt, to turn the Verdun defences. This attack was stopped, and a month or so later Lebooq retook what ground had been lost, so that tho position remained approximately where it was after the local actions following on tho big battles of Verdun. Since then only minor alterations have oeourred. Attacking now from tho Mort HommeAvocourt line the Allies have accomplished, according to an unofficial message, an advance of about seven miles, capturing Dannevoux, on the west bank of tho Meuso, Montfaucon and Septsargcs and Nantillois.

Now a penetration to a depth of seven miles implies an advance on a front of about fifteen miles, sinco such a break-through on nn unduly narrow front would be speedily repaired by tho enemy, and the too eager advanced parties of. tho attackers would be liable to be cut off. An advance is controlled so that its flanks may bo secure, and if an American dash in tho centre reached Nantillois, which is a couple of miles beyond Montfaucon, the positions gained could not be maintained unless a corresponding advance had been made on the flanks. It is reasonable to suppose, therefore, that the attack extended, at least from the Meuso to Varennes. There was a supporting attack in Champagne, away to the west of the Argonne ridge, and probably an attack was delivered on the Argonne front also, though there the. natural difficulties and the strength of tho enemy's fortifications would have to be overcome before any substantial advance could be achieved.

There is little to 'say in the way of fresh comment on the Serbian operations, which seem to bo developing normally. A New York message claims that Koprili (Veles) has been captured, so that the Babuna pass is virtually closed to the retreating enemy. Tho dash of the Allied cavalry west from Prilep to Krushevo has intercepted the Bulgarian retreat in that, direction, and the Bulgarians in the Coma bond and in the hills north of Monastir will cither have to out their way north or else fall back to the Albanian mountains. In either case the dispersal of tho enemy forces on. these sectors appears to bo a foregone conclusion. There is evidence now, moreover, that the Bulgarians have already lost tho strong mountain line east, of the Vardar on which the critics expected them to halt. It is stated that tho British cavalry havo pushed over tho pass between the Plaush aud Belashitza ranges, northwards of Lake Doiran, and are rapidly approaching Strumitea, which is the only base for the Bulgarians operating on this front. As tho mountain ranges mark tho frontier it is strictly correct to 6ay that Bulgaria has been invaded, 'but tho suggestion that the way is open for an advance into the heart of Bulgaria is taking a groat "deal for granted. The Bulgarians have every opportunity of blocking the road into the Struma valley, though in doing so they may have to abandon the lower Struma and expose the rich Drama region. Tho important, point about tho British advance towai-ds Strumitsa is the evidence that the Bulgarian resistance nn the sector north of Lake Doiran has weakened very appreciably.

The Palestine operations are now of minor consequence. The towns on tho western and' southern shores of Lake

Galilee are now in British hands, and Gonoral Allenby will push his cavalry northwards to secure the main roads, so that he will be freo from danger from that quarter. He will be able, at tho samo timo, to send a force east across the Jordan to co-operate with the Arabs who so helpfully severed the Damascus railway, north and south of Derat. If tho conquest of the Hauran plateau is considered advisable nt can bo undertaken at leisure, but now that the Turkish resistance has been broken there is a very wide field over which the British may operate at will. No doubt strong enemy forces will be concentrated to cover Damascus, and it'may be impossible to move against that base until after the, rainy season,' but the situation has developed so rapidly and General Allenby's victory has been so complete that one could not he surprised at an advance even to Beirut and Damascus. However, the army cannot march far from its base until its lines of communication aro assured, and tho programme for this year may include no more than the conquest and occupation of Galileo. East of the Jordan tho Anzacs have occupied Amman, on tho Hedjaz railway.