THE WAY OF THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12407, 27 August 1918, Page 4

THE WAY OF THE WAR.

THE POSITION ANALYSED. Although an, unofficial message received yesterday afternoon declared that Bapaurao had been captured, and a later message from New York stated that the British wero entering the town, its fall had not been, officially announced at midday on Sunday. Sir Douglas Haig’s communique, indeed, indicated that strong enemy reinforcements were appearing and that the resistance was becoming more pronounced, so that a direct attack on Bapanmo would certainly encounter stiff opposition. The general course of the battle, however, strongly suggested the early evacuation of the place. The British were advancing on a wide front, and clearly the enemy had been prevented from organising anything in the shape of, a continuous lino of defence. If a centre of resistance was organised at one point it was speedily outflanked, and although tho general rate of progress was not groat, it was steady. Moreover, there were no direct indications that the Germans would; be able to stabilise the position north of Bapaume, and if they failed on that sector Bapaumo itself could not be- saved, however tenaciously the troops in front of it might cling to their strong points. South of Bapanme the Germans have been retiring steadily, making use of the familiar high ground, and falling back only in conformity with the retreat- further north.

lu this way the British reached, on Sunday morning, a line running north from the ridge east of Bray, to the east of Mametz, Contalmaison. Le Sars and Warlencourt. The enemy had offered a stubborn resistance on the ridge between Bray and Suzanne, as he was bound to do, because too speedy a retreat on the north bank of the Somme might easily have prejudiced, his position on the south bank, involving a readjustment of positions there that might have affected a considerable width of front. Moreover, it would have been futile for him to attempt to delay the British advance on the ridges south of Bapaume if the flank on the Somme had been uncovered. It would, not be without a stiff fight, therefore, that the Australians carried the Suzanne ridge, but having carried it they would have Suzanne below them. Even then, however, the way would not be altogether clear to Curlu and the old 1916 line, and it will come as no surprise to learn that the struggle has been as continuous and as intense on the north bank of the Somme as on any other part of the whole front of the battle.

The most serious problem arising for the Germans out of Saturday’s actions was that created by the irresistible rush of the New' Zealanders towards Bapaume itself. The enemy could not afford to bo caught in the town before he got away the bulk of his stores, and apart from that aspect of the matter, the loss of Bapaume -would have endangered the orderly retreat on the sector immediately to the south. It would bo to Bapaume, then? that the reinforcements would first ho rushed, and it will be • interesting to have the details of the battle, because they will throw a flood of light on the condition of the enemy’s reserves. Unfortunately the British correspondents do not specialise in the class of detail that is most useful to the student.-and it is only occasionally that illuminating sidelights are telegraphed while an action is still in progress. But a little later there ought to be|information as to the identity and the quality of the German troops that joined in the battle in front of Bapaume. Then there was an obvious danger of a break about Croisilles, so that the German line would need strengthening at that point also.

Unofficial reports suggested that the British had pushed forward to the neighbourhood of Bullecourt, the scene of a tremendous Australian battle early last year, but if the patrols got near Bullecourt the German resistance must have melted away at one point, and the story is a little difficult, of belief. Croisilles could bo reached by rail either from Cambrai or from Houai, at both of which cities there must have been divisions in reserve, and a little further to the east the Germans still have the very complete system of communications that they built up to supply the Hindenburg line. By Saturday tho question woiild be lees one of transport facilities than of available reserves, and that is why the identity of the fresh troops thrown into the battle by tho Germans is important. Naturally one does not expect very definite information to be made public at this stage, but tho point is mentioned as one on which tiro serious reader ought to watch for hints. It may be taken for granted that by Sunday the enemy would have fresh divisions in action on the whole i front north of Bapaume, and in the absence of any official nows on the subject one would naturally infer that tho resistance had increased.

In point of fact this is what has happened. Tho Germans have gathered all the reserves immediately available and thrown them into the fight by regiments, and their counter-attacks- temporarily checked the British advance, except to tho south of Bapaume, where the Germans were ( retrying.to'a safer' line. The gain time for the arrival of fuwßer reserve's and for the organisaticjpof new strong, points, blit the Allies have worked out an effective system of deal-ing-with isolated points of resistance, and unless the enemy succeeds in linking up his machine-gun nests 'and hastily fortified woods and villages, his retreat will continue.; - The official news carries tho story of.-'the battle only to the gates of Bapaume, and leaves the position to the north altogether in doubt- It ;is not -the deepest penetration of patrols that counts in such an operation, of course, because patrols can bo driven in, and the official reports record, only the ground that has been definitely captured and consolidated ' against counter-attack. Normally there ought to have been a further extension of the front of the battle northwards beyond the Cojeul, becausojif the enemy is left undisturbed he will, endeavour to restrict the British advance by organising a powerful defensive system on which to rest his flank.