The big offensive

Has it opened?

Heavy Fighting

Monmouths in thick of it

Terrible losses on both sides

THERE are indications - but only indications - that the first move in the great offensive is now in process of enactment and that the Germans have endeavoured to counter it by simultaneous action of a similar character.

This is the necessarily cautious reading of the various messages, official and otherwise, which will be found set out in another column this morning.

According to our own special telegram ‘fierce fighting continues along the whole front of more than 70 miles, stretching from Arras to the sea,’ and the struggle now being waged is described as ‘the final battle for Calais and the Coast.’

We have already had this ‘Final battle’ several times but on the present occasion the known facts of the situation do not dispose us to quarrel with the description.

The efforts of the enemy may not immediately come to a conclusion - that is too much to hope - but that the operations, however much prolonged, represent the last attempt to a really determined offensive in this direction there is good reason to believe.

So far, despite the unequalled rain of shells on our position and the persistency of the attack generally, the enemy do not appear to have made much headway.

Whatever temporary gain they could claim was more than neutralised by their heavy losses for ‘whole battalions melted away under out fire’ and ‘in the end they were repulsed all along the line and we still hold Ypres.’ Our own losses were ‘lamentably heavy’ and one almost dreads the publication of the casualty lists but another brilliant chapter has been added to the British military annals.

So much for the German offensive and its result but ‘meanwhile counter- stories have been delivered on the enemies lines... North of La Bassee the British have gained ground South-East towards Fromelles.’ Fromelles as was pointed out yesterday is a mile and a half North East of Aubers on the Lille road.

We are evidently attempting something on a large scale and the Allies are clearly threatening the La Bassee salients as it has be never been threatened before.

The Germans may be relied upon to devote every ounce of available strength to stop Anglo French progress for here is a network of railway lines which is vastly important for them to retain. If our advance is to be continued it is bound to be a costly affair and if we are not yet in overwhelming strength it will not be attempted.

Our objective at present may be merely vigorous pursuit of the policy of attrition. The German is bound to resist with as much strength as he can summon the spot, every effort the Allies make here, and each day’s fighting leaves him nearer the point of exhaustion. Our armies are growing; the enemies forces are not and cannot grow at the same rate. His last formations are almost all in the field and the time is rapidly approaching when his inability to repair wastages will become apparent. then we hall begin to discern - not the beginning of an end, perhaps, but assuredly ‘the end of the beginning.’