Marked progress

Good news from the front

Allies in excellent spirit

The situation is satisfactory - this is the outstanding phrase of yesterday’s press bureau coverage.

And from satisfactory we are able to construe as excellent. There has been more desperate fighting but the allies continue to advance they are apparently working to a program, the finale to which has only been delayed by the excessive number of encores.

Ground is gained, temporarily lost, and regained, with a little extra added each time.

We learn that at various points the French and German trenches are now only a few hundred yards apart. The indications are that the progress responsible for this state of affairs is that of the Allies and upon it we may build substantial hope.

In must be admitted that on Saturday the outlook was not rosy.

Yesterday’s announcements however showed a distinct change of tone and the bulletins to hand this morning are all that could be desired.

There is no longer talk of being obliged to give a little ground and it has been noted that from September 25-27 the Germans have not ceased by night or day to renew their attacks on the whole front.

The attacks have been delivered with unprecedented violence the manifest object being to break our lines with their collective force apparently on instructions from the Superior Command, to deliver a decisive result in the battle.

Not only have they not succeeded in this, but in the course of their action we have captured guns, a flag and numerous prisoners.

This reads well but there is better to follow as all of our army commanders report that the morale of our tools, notwithstanding the fatigue resulting from the uninterrupted struggle, remains excellent and that they even have difficulty restraining the men in their desire to come to grips with the enemy sheltered in his defensive positions.

It would seem that at only one point in the present phase of the struggle, have the enemy shown advantage and even then the gained ground only to lose it again.

The German losses have everywhere been heavy.

Our hopes are not likely to be dashed by anything issuing from the German headquarters and the recent statement from Berlin really tends to confirm our optimism It is the nearest effort at telling the truth that has so far been recognisable a such.

There is good news also from the northerly sections where the Belgians have again scooped a success.

The message is official and many of its details have a significance upon which we are not allowed to comment.

Elsewhere the Russian advance continues, they have been victorious in the Carpathians and are now marching into Hungary while the German advance into East Prussia appears to have been definitely checked.

On Saturday the Bank of England brought nearly three quarters of a million sterling gold in from the United States making the total influx of gold from abroad since Wednesday over £2,100,000. The banks holding of coin and bullion is now the largest on record.