The sun., 1917-10-08
SUPREME TEST OF WAR
Result So Far Shows Deci-
sivc Ascendency of Allies
and Victory Seems Sure.
TITANIC STRUGGLE NEARS
Germans Mass Their Strongest
Force, but Washington Be-
licvcs They Cannot Hold.

WAsHISGroN, oct. 7.--Decieive aScen.
dency for the Allies In the supreme test
OF battle strength now taking place on
the bloody fields OF Flanders is claimed
by Secretary Baker in the weekly review
War Department
While It may be premature to assert
that the British war machine has forced
q decision over the Germans, Mr.. Baker
says the Victories OF the past fortnight.
threatening the German submarine has ses
ON the Belgian coast are conclusive in
dications of allied superiority. With
favorable weather. he thinks. these
victories will be repeated and extended.
The review, which is for the week
ended last night, makes no reference to
the American forces in France or to the
great preparations for war goinS
forward at home.
The attention OF the world II says,
"is focused on the titanic struggle
now going on in Flanders. The battle
raging there Is proving an engagement
Of wholly unprecedented scope and
potentialities
Counter Attacks Futile.
AT the beginning of the week. owing
to bad weather the Germans were able
to launch counter attacks against the
positions recently gained by the British.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Ger
mans made use Of smoke screens and
liquid fire and brought into action an
imposing array Of artillery in their at
tack against the advanced British lines
between the Tower hamlets aud Polygon
Wood their efforts proved futile.
1T is significant. on the other hand.
that while the British were sustaining
the shock % German assaults success
fully they We're abb" to bring UP suf-
icient fresh troops in order to launch
another offensive action on an even
larger scale than the preceding one In
the face Of the eucmy's onslaught
Slowly. but therefore the more ir-
res!stihy. the allied drive at the heart
of the German line IN the west is sweep
ing onward,
The wisdom OF the British In MAIN
aiming 81 great density Of front would
appear justified by the results achieved
during tho last week. II must he borne
in mind that 1t IL due TO the depth OF
the British Inc a. much as 70 any other
ono factor that while the enemy Is still
roeiirc under one blow the Allies are
ready to deliver another and still a
third.
AIird supremacy shown.
1T has been characteristic Of the
campaign in Flanders hitherto that
neither Nelsig'reut has attained what We
may call a decisive success. The Ger
mans have masscd their greatest war
strength along this battle front To al.
tack them At their strongest point Of
resistance is sound strategy.
The defeats inflicted upon them dur
ing the last fortnight are conclusive in.
dications Of allied superiority. In the
light OF past experience 1t may be prem
ature to assert that the British have
succeeded in forcing a decision, hut Il
may be stated with emphasis that Ia 10
engagement hitherto has such Nigor
energy and concerted speed OF action
been disrlsyed.
"The full success Of these operations
means that the Belgian coast with il.
numerous submarine bases win become
uutenabe 10 the enemy. ZeebrugEe Os-
tend and the system of canals leading
out Of Bruses are threatened
/ THE supreme test of tho hattie
strength of the conteudnr bt',pereuts
/ is taking place. Allied aSceudcncy
would appear decisive.
Two Factors of Snccc~s.
+! "The two immediate contributing fac,
tors OF this success are: AR control and
she'll supply. The former made it pos
sible for the Allies to locate enemy con,
Centratlons. the latter to break them NJ
before they could develop into serious
offensive actions, At the same tim" per
mittiug their own concentration Of mer
and guns TO he carried out with clock
work REGULARITY, unhampered by elem,
interference
"rhe Rritigh arc thus able 10 repor
that since July Ct they have not lost ;
e'uele gun while they have captured
3as field and hoavy guns and taken 81,
43o prisoners
The enemy realizes the danger lie 4
facing We may expect him TO counte
attack In force, He may even regain
secondary objectiNas temporarily. hu
the British war machine is moving for
ward. and II time permits and the com
bat season remains open, with a
weather contiuu.uE favorable f1r recon
raissaucc and careful aircraft obsr'va
tior, the allied Victories 4 the past tw
weeks VIII 20 al gCohal Its BE rc
poated and extended
The enemy pressure along the cast
err front ha. been relieved by the stron
allied offensive in Flanders. No engage
nients oil moro than local Importance ar
reported In the east.
The German advance In the no-tneae
has apparently weakened, and the Rus
e,ars have been abe to reorganize the
positions in the Riga sector