The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-11-29
Last Week Was A
Great One For Allies


war departments official communique
issued to-day reviewing military op-
erations for the past week.
"The success of the British often !
sive in the region of Cambria and the
steady resistance of the Italians in
the face of the repeated attacks of
the Austro-German forces are two
factors which may be considered as
correlative elements of one and the
same movement.
'It is evident that the ennemy took
the offensive in Italy hoping thereby
to extricate himself from the increas-
ingly difficult position in which his
forces find themselves in the west.
Though the French and the British
have both dispatched large conting-
ents to, Italy, this has in no way ham,
pered the continuance of their often
sive operations.
at is the wastage of the enemy
forces, the slow, yet relentless sap
ping of his man power by continued
and sudden thrusts which must event
ually result in the softening of his
line in the west.
"The military situation is dominat-
ed by the spectacular success gained
by the British forces in their thrust
toward Cambria. BY adopting new
tactical methods, by evolving a STRAIT
egy daringly conceived and brilliant
ly executed, the British forces have
been able to record greater success,
when measured by captured terrain,
same space of time along the western
front. While seemingly continuing
his offensive engagements in Flan-
ders by an intense artillery lombard
ment in the sector stretching from
Ypres to the North Sea, Field Mar
shall Haig was able to mask success
fully his plans for an offensive thrust
{ between the Scarpe river and st.
: Quintin.
5 lathe usual preliminary artillery
preparation was dispensed with. The
elements of surprise so essential to
victory played large part in the sue
cesses gained. The British, by pre-
ponderant numerical superiority in
men and mobile material, by impro-
vising the skillful tactical maneuver-
ing of an unusual number of tanks,
and by co-ordinating with precision
the deployment of cavalry, made use
of these two arms to bear the brunt
of the encounter. Infantry then was
called upon to hold and consolidate
the terrain gained. Thus the British
were able to record decided success
with very great economy of muni-
tions and slight casualties Three
successive German lines of defense
on a frontage of six miles astride the
Cambrai-Bapaume road were cap
tured and the Scheldt canal in front
of Cambrai was crossed.
Cambrai Under Fire
Cambria, the center of very i'm
portant rail road and canal lines of
communication, now comes under the
immediate fire Of British field guns,
while the large calibre, high velocity
ar. SavN guns can readily search out
the countryside for miles in the rear.
The number Of prisoners captured
was 10000.
The French have also made notable
gains in the Champagne.
"In the sector where our troops
are training increased artillery ac-
tivity is noted. Small detachments
on patrol duty have gained some use
full experience.
The Italian Situation
"rhe Italiap armies, now complet-
ing their reorganization, have been
able to withstand the assaults of the
numerically superior forces of the
Austro-German divisions engaged
against them. The enemy is continu-
ing his efforts to break through the
lines but the Italians are holding
firm"
LOST SH0Ec