Events moving fast

Germans driven back

Allies gain thirty miles

Belgians fighting well

GERMAN losses are already approaching the figure it was declared they could afford to lose if their plans did not work out but those plans have miscarried and the effort to once more resume the offensive on the grand scale is something of a forlorn hope.

There is likely to be, we do not know if it has commenced yet, a battle in Northern France and West Flanders which will represent the last despairing attempt of the invaders to make good and as they are apparently staking everything upon this throw, there is no doubt about their great strength in this area, and there are anxious hours ahead for us.

On the other hand while it is altogether inadvisable to preach the certainty of victory for the allies, it is known that the situation is considered good and a quiet confidence reigns.

The available news, official and otherwise certainly encourages optimism.

When we remember that General Joffre once contemplated retiring behind the Seine south of Paris, when we read that General French actually shifted his base as far west as St Nasaige, we begin to understand how much is gained.

The allied troops on the frontier are more than holding their own, our own men in the last few days have gained 30 miles.

The battle of the Aisne has merged in a new battle and once more the Germans are trying to force the allies left.

The allies left however is not in the air as it was last August, it runs we are told, to the sea.

A German success can only come by a hard pounding and after the battle of the Aisne there is good reason to believe that the allies can pound the hardest and the longest.

The simple statement of fact, that the allies have taken Armentieres and have made progress at other points notably in the North of Arras while Fromelles to the south west of Lille has been occupied is a long way from being bold and unconvincing when we examine that invaluable guide, the map .

When Antwerp fell, an empty husk over which the Germans have quite failed to hide their disappointment, there was to be a great dash for Calais with Ostend a mere appetiser on the way.

That advance has stopped on a line running from Ostend south eastward to a point about twelve mile North of Lille and as we hold Ypres their particular section of the German forces is to say the least of it somewhat awkwardly placed. It seems also clear that Von Kluck’s army is off French soil altogether.

It certainly seems that the tide has begun to turn again and the German army is on the point of general retreat and it must not be forgotten if this view seems too optimistic, that the latest official German bulletin reports ‘no success’.

The developments of the next few days will be watched with the closest attention.

One last point should be made and that is that the Belgian army has repulsed several attacks made upon it.

This indicates that their morale is unimpaired by all that they have gone through.

Hats off once more to the Belgians