Advance on Ostend

Germans nearing the coast

Allies advance in France

Coming great struggle on the left

Very little can usefully be added to the comments of the past few days. The news from the scene of the main operations continues to be good but it may be as well in view of the prevailing inclination to look on the black side of things and the desirability of avoiding anything in the nature of panic, to point out that our progress may not be maintained.

There is just the possibility the plan of campaign is such that we may shortly be reported to be giving ground, at one point in particular, and it is plain to everyone, that there is likely to be a recrudescence of German activity and of fighting along that part of the long line where for some time there has almost been a complete lull.

It may be suggested too that in the stern work ahead the interest may be specifically appealing to the British people and that is why it seems desirable to utter the word of warning.

The Germans have promise to be in Paris by Christmas and there can be no doubt that every effort will be strained to do something in this direction.

In the neighbourhood of Lille and Roye it is already evident that the enemy is making almost superhuman efforts to send back the allies and with every available man in the German firing line it is possible that partial success will be achieved.

Our resources however are so great, there is such a fine railway service at the back of our lines that there should be no great or lasting difficulties in the way of repairing gaps and once more restoring to. It’s full strength the steel band which, in the fullness of time will herd the Germans back from whence they came.

At present the indications so far as officially revealed, point to the position and prospects of the allies as distinctly good.

The frantic attempts to break the line at Roye and Lille have up to the present failed, and indeed the enemy has had to give a considerable amount of ground. It is clear that the German reinforcements except those which have been withdrawn, are not of a first class character. Brave as men of 80 or youths of 18 may be, they are on the wrong side of the age line and they may prove to be a source if danger rather than help to the enemy.

It will be observed that marked progress has been made between Arras and Albert and a somewhat note able advance has been achieved in the area.

Evidently we are doing well both in the centre and in the right centre. We hold the heights of the Meuse to the east of Verdun. It may be whilst our eyes are on the stirring proceedings on our left that our right centre and extreme right are accomplishing work of a most important character. Developments do not necessarily come where we are expecting them.

A report that in the advanced Ghent a German column was ambushed and faced by machine gun fire left 600 for dead on the field for the moment must be regarded with reserve.