New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-15
Foreshadows Arras Attack

Though the action appears TO have
been only raid in force, the ground
won is important and gives the Brit
ish n more complete domination of the
south bank of the River Scarpe. While
General Haig's forces held the heights
Immediately east of Monchy, the Ger
mans clung tenaciously to Infantry
Hill. and several times repulsed efforts
to capture it. The engagement is in
torpreted here as foreshadowing the
renewal of fighting on large scale on
the Arras front.
Reuters correspondent at the front
declares that the German heavy shells
IN Flanders are generally falling at
the extreme range, which means that
the enemy has withdrawn his big guns
as far as possible short Of actually
putting them out of action. He adds:
"The British contact patrols are
harassing the enemy as much as pos
sible, and the artillery is maintaining
a steady bombardment of his new posi-
tions. The country across which the
Germans are now retiring is low and
marshy and in wet weather liable TO
be flooded. but thanks to the long
drouth il offers no particular difficulty
TO the British problems at the present
time. Thus the strategic situation Is
full of interesting possibilities"
Among these may be the early evacu-
alton of Warneton. and Confines. The
German retirement, as thus far report
ed. includes front of about two miles,
and it can hardly stop short OF the
southeast bank of the River Lys, which
forms the boundary between France
and Belgium. In the angle between the
Lys and the Ypres-Lille Canal, which
flows into the Lys at Confines, there is
nothing but ground so low as to be
almost below sea level, and from
Capaard. which the British hold, north
ward TO Kleine Zillebeke, there is not
oven a hamlet to the west of the canal
in which the enemy can intrench hlm-
self.
May Advance Along Lys
The River Lys, in its 100 mile course.
runs straight through Belgium before
it Joins the Scheldt, and General Halg
NAV elect to use this waterway as an
approach into Belgium just as, further
south. he is using the valley OF the
Scarpe in his approach upon Doual.
The military correspondent OF "Ihe
Westminster Gazette" discussing the
present strategic position, says to-day:
There is a great military road INTO
Relrium from the west through Ypres
There is another great road from the
-
valley of the Lys. These roads con-
verge nj Menin. which is an important
railroad as we'll as road centre. The
Wytschaete Ridge lies in the angle be-
tween these roads, which its possession
commands. These geographical facts
make It clear why the Germans fought
so long to gain possession OF the ridge
and were willing to pay for il price
equal to that which they were willing
20 nav for Verdun, If their entire losses
around Ypres be included.
by rendering the ridge impregnable
they believed they had barred and
bolted this front door into Belgium
finally. But the ridge served another
purpose. Together with the bastion OF
La Bassee il formed cover. stiifening
the German right wing. Everything
on the enemy's west front depended on
the right wing remaining secure.
Without Belgium as military base
the German campaign could no go on"
Undoubtedly the attacks east of Mes
sines and those reported to-day south
of the Scarpe, near Monchy. are con-
nected actions. The British drive,
slowly, almost infnitesimally, is con
verging on Lille and the great indus
trial region around it. That General
Haig may have even larger strategic
objects in view is indicated in the opin
ions of the military critics.
The Berlin bulletins make no men
ton of German retirement, and spe-
ciiically state that "the positions re-
main unchanged" The explosion of
mines east of Ypres which worked
havoc with the British position" is re-
corded.
Official reports and 6ther Udr