Fighting at Ypres

Germans worsted

Allies success in Alsace

The naval victory

It was clear from yesterday’s official communiques that there is life in German doggedness yet and that some hard fighting has been going on around Ypres.

Very significant was the statement in the afternoon bulletin that there were several attacks on our lines, three of which were completely repulsed, but they succeeded in reaching one of the trenches in our first line.

There is symphony in the word reaching us but it nevertheless means that the allies had been driven out and that the foe had entered into possession.

It was highly satisfactory to hear then from the later bulletin that this trench had been re-taken and that something of an adverse character remained to sully the record of the period under review.

On other portions of the opposing lines the story continues to be one of steady progress, enlivened here and there by gains of a considerable character.

An eye must still be kept from the achievements of the French right wing for it is becoming increasingly plain that great movements are here afoot and in contemplation.

That the Germans know this and have made dispositions accordingly enhances the feats which receive such brief notice in the Paris reports.

The capture of Anspach railway station in Alsace is an exceedingly interesting announcement while the advance in the Argonne part and parcel of the inward and onward move if this wing, raises hopes which may be realised earlier than some of us had hoped.

It is difficult to believe that after so many years of preparation, Germany is Iikely to be running short of war material but on the other hand matters have turned out so differently to their expectations that there may be something in these allegations.

It must not be forgotten that German gunners have been warned against waste.

At present what is desirable to guard against is that acute pessimism is a thing of the past, as is over optimism.

Hopeful outlook

German offensive disappearing

The news of the British naval victory in the South Atlantic came at an opportune moment for it had a moral as well as a material value.

The loss of the Good Hope and the Monmouth in the battle off the Chilean coast a month ago caused much unnecessary and unwarranted perturbation of the public mind and undoubtedly led to some little lowering of British naval prestige among the people of neutral states.

This has all been regained with something to the good, at the outbreak of war Germany had nine armoured cruisers to Britains’s 34, they now have only two remaining cruisers of any considerable power compared to our 29.

We can replace lost units much quicker than Germany can.

On land the best news the Germans are likely to get from the eastern area will lead to no flag flapping at Berlin for the Russians have a tight grip on Cracow and ere long will be in Silesia and over-running Hungary.

The withdrawal from Lodz is permitting a reformation of the Russian line which will make it irresistible and though we are permitted to know very little of the Grand Duke’s plans we may be sure from past experience, that he is preparing a crushing blow.