BRITISH ADVANCE

Southland Times, Issue 17735, 13 August 1917, Page 5

BRITISH ADVANCE

Progress East of Ypres HEAVY FIGHTING ON FRENCH FRONT Russian Resistance Stiffened ARMY DISCIPLINE IMPROVING Britain and the Stockholm Conference LABOUR DECIDES TO SEND DELEGATES The British delivered another attack on a short front east of Ypres, and met with strong resistance, especially on the right, astride the Ypres—Memn road. In the centre and on the left all objectives were gamed, leaving the British in possession of the Westhoek ridge. Six counter-attacks were frustrated. The French front has been the scene of heavy fighting from St. Quentin to the Meuse. North of St. Quentin the Germans gained a temporary advantage, but were driven back by a counter-attack. A carefully prepared attack on the Chemin des Dames was also foiled, and in Champagne the French successfully resisted a strong effort. On the Eastern front the Germans attacked strongly in the direction of Brody, but the effort was a complete failure. The Russo-Roumanians also appear to be putting up a stiff resistance, though they have been forced back at certain points. The news from the fighting line corroborates the report from Petrograd that the morale of the army has improved noticeably, and discipline should soon be normal again. The Labour Conference at Home has decided in favour of sending delegates to Stockholm, but the conference is robbed of much of its significance by the fact that it is to be consultative in character, and not mandatory. Moreover Belgium, France, Italy and America will not be represented, and as the British delegates will be hostile to the idea of a separate peace and to the idea of a peace which does not make Germany pay for her moral and civil crimes, the conference will not facilitate the easy exit from the war which Germany is now seeking. The opponents of representation at Stockholm are not yet satisfied, and a meeting of leaders has been called at which a referendum on the question may be demanded. Mr A. Henderson, the Labour member of the War Cabinet, whose influence was largely responsible for the Conferences decision, appears to hate let Cabinet down badly. After his speech at the Conference his resignation was apparently demanded, and in intimating that it had been accepted Mr Lloyd George gives publicity to some important facts. Mr Henderson’s advice to the Conference was exactly the opposite of that which his colleagues had reason to expect, and he also suppressed a very important statement regarding Russia’s attitude. The Russian Government does not desire the Stockholm Conference, but it is not in a position to prevent delegates from attending. The information now available shows that the meeting at Stockholm cannot do any good, and it may do harm, and the situation at Home sontains elements that may lead to trouble. British raids on German military centres in Belgium contiriue with good results. Railways and aerodromes are being bombed relentlessly. The Italians are also subjecting Pola to severe treatment, dropping tons of bombs on the arsenal and fleet IIOSIh Day of the War {By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)