Combined action begins

The battle in the west

The German advance has been checked but has it been stopped?

For an answer to this question it is vain to seek the official reports.

The more hopeful view is that the enemy has done his worst and in support of this it is pointed out that the present development going back to its inception at the beginning of last week has already been of some duration while the results are certainly insufficient for the jubilation indulged in at Berlin.

There is reason to believe too, from indications pointing to the sections of our forces engaged, that the enemy has by no means come up against our full strength while so far as the Franco-Belgian position of the line is concerned it is manifest that our allies were caught napping.

It is also fairly clear that the Germans were not in the preponderating strength at first hastily assumed and though they forced back a portion of the French and British line to the North of Ypres they have not made good their advance while the attack which developed in the North East of Ypres resulted in but a slight withdrawal of our forces in that direction.

Frankly, the situation is puzzling and much that is difficult to understand has probably arisen from the fact that, as mentioned here as far back as last Thursday, Sir John French forestalled the German plans by the brilliant piece of work which ended in the capture and retention of Hill 60.

The desperate effort to recover the important position, having failed a counter movement to the North, was hatched somewhat prematurely.

The circumstances were such that it had the merit of unexpectedness and for this reason it met with a measure of success. But for the same reason that success has not been sweeping in its character.

The ground gained in the first great rush was considerable in extent, but of itself not strategically of great importance and while fighting still continues there is evidence that the advance gained no momentum and is indeed slowing down to stop.

It is doubtful when one calmly surveys matters whether the somewhat lurid picture of another dash on Dunkirk and Calais had any justification at all.

Probably the immediate idea was to separate British and French from the Belgians for, with that achieved, the possession of the coast would follow later.

It may also be suggested that the supreme German effort has not been directed at Ypres but that it may come elsewhere. In others words we have merely been witnessing a huge feint and it will be some days before we discover either its complete significance or the measure of success which has attended it.

Interest is divided between the events on the Western front and the stirring tidings from the Dardanelles. Combined navy and military operations against the Turkish defences have at length commenced in real earnest.

The landing of the Anglo-French army at various points on the Gallipoli peninsula successfully conducted in spite of serious opposition is a achievement which must rank high in military annals.

There is at this time also, great activity of the Russian Black Sea fleet and the Bosphorus forts are being bombarded.