The sun., 1917-08-01
MAY OPEN DOOR
TO FLANDERS
Capture of La Bassee Vile
Gives Key to Entire
Province.
Special Gable Despatch TO TIE sus.

LONDON, July 31.-Although lacking
in the spectacular features OF some OF
the great drives, such as inaugurated the
Messines offensive, Field Marshal Haigs
new push north Of the River Lys will
prove a much heavier blow TO the Ger
mans than the loss Of the Wyschaete
Ridge,
The new forward movement cannot be
called surprise, for a nervous and
anxious public has been expecting II
since the middle OF July. but the posi-
tion OF the attacking force and the
nature of the thrust are decidedly sur
prising to every one not connected with
military operations. London has been
ftlled with rumors OF a great thrust on
the coast. but 1t naturally gasped at the
news that French troops were lighting
to the north Of the British main front.
All British officialdom Is waiting
bresthlessly for further details of the
attack, scanning anxiously the latest
large scale maps Of the country between
Armentieres and Boessinge.
These maps show intricate trench sys-
TENS on the higher ground directly west
OF Ypres, where the Germans had pre-
pared their strongest defences. At this
point the British troops undoubtedly will
meet frightful resistance.
All along the high ground, which takes
a northwesterly trend from a point due
west OF Ypres toward Zonnebeke, the
Germans have constructed pits, cupolas
and other defences best adapted to the
character OF the ground.
1t is here also that they concentrated
enormous numbers of heavy guns. Fur
ther south the country becomes more
level until at Armentieres the British
are facing a section practically at sea
I II. n Az..
sistance as the higher country to the
north.
La Bassee Willie Is again in British
hands. The first few hours of the new
movement could not have yielded a
more important strategic victory, for
this point is the key position for move
ments TO the northwest. 1t can be taken
for granted that IL the British forces
break the German line at any place be-
tween Armentieres ana Hollebeke this
will provide a wonderful opportunity for
completely isolating the army In Bel
gium. thus splitting the German forces
and engaging them separately, the be-
ginning of the last stage Of complete
victory.
A study of the detailed maps shows
/ that the weakest point of the German
I line is Just north of Warneton, where
/ the lowlands and swamps make deer
| intrenchments impossible All the re-
/ ports coming to London to-day empha'
size that the prisoners were made In
/ small patches: this leads to the belief
/ that the preliminary bombardmen'
wiped out great portions of the front
/ line OF the Germans, either annihilatinG
| the defenders or forcing them into re-
/ treat.
! Tne elaborate arrangements for quick
artillery movements IN support OF the
infantry worked out perfectly during
the early hours of the attack. Through
out the country just north OF Warne'
ton there have been repeated battles
ever since october, 1915. 1t Is there
that thousands of men spent the win
ter months UP to their waists in water
never digging trenches more than foui
feet deep. The ground has been ter
rIblv marked by years OF shellfre. II
many cases, when the British captured
small pieces OF ground and began con
/ structing new trenches, they dug int
cid trench lines long since covered bu
still filled with dead Germans,
Until the British captured Messine'
ridge the troops in this area worked
hinder a great disadvantage, but witt
the ridge as an observation point they
are bound to make things hot for tn
foe. II is the first time the Britisi
have attempted an offensive over grount
50 low and marshy. once this stril
~ country is wrested from German!
Field Marshal Haig will have under OBJ
ssrvatIon the Ypres salient clear 4
hrmentieres, which means he will hav
onened the door to all Of Flanders.