THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17375, 24 July 1918, Page 4

THE WESTERN FRONT.

The battle on + he western front continues to go favourably for tho Allies, although their advance, the first-fruits of General Foch's dramatic counterstroke, has very sensibly slackened, as was to be expected upon the recovery of the Gorinans from their surprise anil upon the adjustment of their forces for a vigorous resistance. The seizure of the initiative by the Allies has been productive of highly important military results. Whatever tho full significance of these may yet be shown to be, the immediate effect, we are entitled to believe, is the complete failure of another phase of the enemy's great offensive. The German official despatches may discount the success of the Allies as they will, but they cannot disguise the facts that the Allies are now established at and beyond Chateau Thierry, that they dominate Soissons, and that the Germans themselves have paid a bitter price for their initial success in crossing the Marne, over which river their forces have now been driven violently back. The comments in the German newspapers .show how unpalatable they find the truth so far as they have learned it. Even supposing the Allied counter-offensive to be checked, as the enemy claims, and supposing the Germans are still able to hold on to the Aisne-Marne salient, which is their present problem, the strategic and general results of the battle in its altered complexion will still have high value for the Allies., It would be difficult to over-rate the importance of the demonstration that they have given of their possession of effective striking power for use at a crucia» moment. The cumulative effect of their stoppage of every German attack delivered since March 21 and the smashing blow that has brought decisive failure to the enemy's latest attempt to institute a successful drive towards victory must be very far from negligible in their effect upon the military calculations of Germany. Pushed on regardless of cost, as it has been, the enemy's great offensive bears at the end of the fourth month more unmistakably than ever the stamp of an abortive effort.