LAST WEEK'S FIGHTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 19

LAST WEEK'S FIGHTING.

THE OPERATIONS REVIEWED. BATTLE AREA SHIFTING NORTHWARDS. WELLINGTON, May 5. The following summary of the military operations for tho week ending May 2 lias been received by tho Governor-General from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies, dealing with the operations sinoo tho recapture of Villers-Bretonneux on the night of April 24-25 ill a brilliant counter-attack by ihc Australian and British troops, and the T repulse of. the enemy by the French at hangard and Hangard Wood:

There has been no change in the Somme salient, but in the Lys salient battles have been fought, upon the issues of which might well depend tho future course of the present campaign. Briefly, these consist of tho capture by tho enemy of Mont Kemmcl on April 25 and the failure of his effort to follow up this success by a further advance. Mont Kemmcl was taken after a very severe struggle by an encircling movement round both flanks. The enemy made a serious attempt on April 29 to follow up his success. His plan was to push his way through between Mont Rouge and La Clytte and then roll up tho British line northwards, thus forcing them to* evacuate the Ypres salient. He succeeded in advancing at one point and reached the cross road northward of Locre; but by a spirited counter-attack the French threw him. back from his advanced positions and then regained Locre. Tho Britisn troops to the north held fast, taking a heavy toll of the enemy along tho whole line. Tho assault delivered on the Belgians north of Ypres was completely repulsed. Its failure can only be considered a decided defeat of the enemy. . On tho Somme the best German troops were used, and such were tho strength and determination of the attacks that no excuse for this signal failure is admissible. "" The enemy, so far from shaking the Allies' front, on the contrai-y increased their confidence, giving his own troops every reason for depression. A repulse before Amiens is more serious for the enemy than one further north and the enemy's failure to occupy the plateau in which Cachy was the objective in last, week's attack at Villers-Brcton-ncux, though in point of numbers not so big an affair as the struggle west of Mont Kemmcl, is nevci'theless extremely satisfactory to the Allies. But tho enemy, while continuing his threat in this salient has gradually increased tho number of divisions on the northern battle front until very considerable forces are represented. Only a few miles separate him from important strategio points which he cannot be expected to renounce without further struggles. He is, however, dispersing his strength by persisting in an enterprise which was not intended at first to develop on such a scale. Nevertheless, the encouragement which has been given to these operations through tho capture of Mont Kemmel may well decide the enemy to use up even more divisions to achieve a tactical success of a moro sentimental and military-" value — namely, the capture of Ypres. In Palestine General Allenby has captured Es iSault and taken a number of prisoners. Ho has also advanced towards in tho neighbourhood of Mezrah. The Arabs in the Maan area have cleared practically the whole district through which the railway runs as far as Mudowara, and have torn ivp the lino for a distance of five miles. Meanwhile General Marshall has advanced along the Mosul road, reaching Tuak Kift'c; and Tuzkhurrnarnu having already been captured with over 1809 prisoners. By the capture of Kiffo the British havo removed tho throat to their communications eastward to Persia. _ This olace was a centre of German intrigue as well as the Turkish Divisional Headquarters and a supply-collecting centre. The surrounding tribes wero encouraged by tho enemy to harass tho British line communication and generally to oppose the better conditions which British influence is gradually bringing about in these regions. The better-disposed tribes are eager to co-operate

against tho common enemy, who is willing enough -to use them in his need, but in peace showed them no consideration. In East Africa the converging movement through difficult country is gradually being carried out. The enemy's main force is on the Upper Luris. while the allied forces are on every siao. One allied detachment, in attacking an enemy convoy retreating on Nannado, captured all tho reserves of small arm ammunition of the German column.