Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-27
Brighter Skies for the Allies

CAPTURE of Pozieres by the British forces
~ represents n long step forward in the
attainment OF General Haig's immediate OBJ
jective in the present allied offensive-the
investment and reduction of the importa Mt
railway center of Bapaume. When Martin
puich falls. as fall it soon must. there will be
few natural defenses left to bar the British
advance.
The French, in the meantime, are con-
solidating and strengthening vantage points
south Of the Somme, to permit new
and stronger blow at Peronne. Despite their
proximity to this town and their possession
OF certain high ground commanding it, it is
unlikely its capture will be attempted by
direct assault. The likelihood rather is that
the French will seek to surround it, by
thrusts from La Maisonnette wood, to the
south, and from Curlu toward Clery. to the
north. Meantime, Combles is menaced both
by the French from Hardecourt and by tho
British from the Bots deS-Trones The re-
cent British attack on Guilemont may be
regarded, perhaps as designed to aid this
purpose, as we'll as to relieve tho British right
flank from German pressure that impeded adj
vances to the north.
In broad sense, the taking Of the
Bapaume-Peronne line is the allies present
purpose. There can be real question that
the possession OF these two towns connected
by railroad and a broad highway, will com
pei considerable German retirement The
French are within mile and n half OF
Pcronne and the British only little more
than five miles from Bapaume, but there
is still much hard fighting to be done before
the captures can be effected.
Military critics look for new British Of
fensive from a point south of Arras. also
directed at Bapaume. Such thrust, il the
advances from Pozieres continues would
catch the Germans west Of the Arras-
Bapaume-Pozieres line in triangle of fire,
from which they could extricate themselves
only at heavy cost
British resourcefulness and British inteli-
gence arc going to snatch victory in a few
months, War Secretary Lloyd George told
the House of Commons the other day
Numbers and all other resources are on our
side There is no doubt at all that the lesson
of this battle is that we have simply to press
on with all our resources and with the ma
terial at command and victory will be
ours"
Lloyd George has not been complacent
prophet since this war began. He has told
ms countrymen some bitterly unpleasant
truths. More than once he has warned them
that they stood on the verge Of defeat and
disaster. That he now finds it both possible
and advisable to speak with such frank and
complete confidence and even to indicate the
date when triumph will crown the allied eff
forts. IS a circumstance that will impress the
world.
IL the meantime the signs OF ''cracking''
in Germany become more numerous and
Significant The revival OF the clamor for
ildiScriminate submarine warfare-in itself
counsel of desperation--is one of them.
Not less remarkable arc German admissions
OF the strength and efficiency of the new
Hritlsh armies--armies that German officers
ana correspondents had been accustomed TO
speak OF in terms OF contempt. Appeals to
nc German people TO maintain their con
hdence in the Kaiser and the general STAFF
show that such appeals are needed for in
sututions it has been the custom TO regard
as infallibc and unconquera BILE
We do not share Lloyd Georges opinion
mat decision Will be reached in a few
months. hut II does seem indubitable that the
allies now have wrenchcd the offensive from
the central powers. and that from now on
German fortunes will decline