May 29.
After eighteen days of fighting of unparall~ eled fierceness the Germans have not yet succeeded in accomplishing their first aim to destroy the Allied armies in Flanders. The original success obtained in breaking through between Peronne and Cambrai has been ex-plaited to the utmost, and despite the fact that Allied counter-attacks have resulted in reducing the width of the original gap, the enemy have been able to rush large forces through to the Channel where they have succeeded in reaching as far north as Boulogne, and possibly Calais, though there still seems to be some doubt as to whether that port has also fallen, leaving, if that proves to be the case, Dunkirk, Ostend, Blankenburg and Zeebrugge in the hands of the Allies. Thus while the German thrust is proceeding along the channel coast, the German high command in an attempt to destroy the Allied armies which are sur~ rounded on three sides, are making heavy attacks between Bapaume and Cambrai, where it is claimed they have reached Vimy, and along the River Escaut between Tournai and Courtrai in an endeavour to split the Allied forces iusto three, Should they succeed in their attempts, which up to the present have been firmly held by the Allies, it would force general retreat, especially from the Cam~ brei-Valenciennes front, and possibly also from Bapaume. To counter this and to endeavour to effect a junction between the encircled Allies, and their forces on the Somme, the French are reported to be preparing a counter-attack northwards from hat at the time of writing had not then been started, and it may be some days yet before the Allies will be able to wipe out the gap which was made early in the German onslaught, in which event the forces under General von Reichenau operating along the Channel coast will be cut off from the main German armies, and stand in precisely the same peril as do the Allied troops in Flanders at the moment. A brief mes-jo from London states that the situation increasingly grave, though from the various communiques which have come to hand it is clear that the battle is not yet lost, and may never be.
Indeed the great gallantry with which the Allies are resisting, the enormous slaughter which is being inflicted on the enemy troops which are being thrown into the fray with a prodigality clearly indicating the German determination to win this battle at all costs, and the fact that despite numerical inferiority the Allies are able to hold their positions fon practically all fronts, provide in themselves ample ground for believing that ultimately this initial struggle will result favourably to the: Allies. The various reports which deal with the present battle speak of the similarity between German methods now, and those adopted in the attacks upon Verdun during the last war, when the enemy threw hundreds of thousands of men into the fray and endured a carnage almost unparalleled in history before. In connection with the onslaughts against Verdun it is interesting to remember that while Generals Ludendorff and von Kuhl were strongly in favour of attacking the British, Count von der Schulenburg took the opposite view declaring that "England with her dogged self-confidence is not likely to end the war on account of a partial defeat of her army." He favoured attacking the French at Verdun in the hope of inflicting such a defeat that the Allies would sue for peace. That failed after a most wanton sacrifice of life, and what the Germans are doing now is in tone sense a return to the original plans of Ludendorft and von Kuhl in an attempt to destroy a portion of the British forces, and thus secure a position from which to thrust right into the heart of Britain. So, regard-Jess of the terrific slaughter which' the Alies are meting out to the enemy, masses of men are being thrown against defensive positions in the hope that by sheer weight of numbers the resistance will be broken down.
Indeed should the Germans eventually succeed in winning this battle it will be open to very considerable question whether they will not have paid too high a price for it, and definitely have prejudiced their chances ever again being able to assume an offensive of similar proportions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.