Evening star., 1917-04-08

ration and as a consequence it is Sc
riously doubted if the Germans can
successfully resist the enemy at any
juncture should the present allied Of
| fensive continue with its present in
| tensity
| 1t yet remains to be seen whether
! the Germans are to inaugurate a gen.
| eral offensive. If they are planning
| continued retreat to points well within
| the Belgian boundary lines these
moves also are shrouded in more or
| less doubt. Particular attention, how
| ever has been given to the German
| orders for a news quarantine" in Bel
| gium. where all officials of foreign
| countries or remaining officials of Bel
gian relief expeditions are to be in
! termed for Il period of at least a fort
night in order that news of coming
| German movements may not reach the
| enemy. Just what these movements
| VIII be Is purely matter of conjec-
| ture, but that the Germans have some
| big plan of operation under way goes
| almost without question.
| Between the Somme and the Disc the
| French have met the stiffest sort of
resistance from the Germans, official
! reports from Paris indicating that ad-
/ vances were made against desperate
German stands on every yard of ground
| The French, however, have been able
| to draw to the outskirts of St Quen-
| tin and it is only matter of hours
| captured. In their advance between
| the Somme and the Disc the French
have. during the past week, captured
L'Epine de Dallon, Giffecourt, Dallon,
| CeriZy and UrVillers Heights. as well
! as Urvillers Moy and Grugies. The
| heights position is the dominating
one most desired by the French. 1t is
| believed that the French by taking this
| ridge will be able to speed up the Ger
man retreat all the way between St.
! Quentin and Laon. for it gives them
an almost Irresistible entering wedge
| into the Hindenburg line.
| The French report contact with the
main German positions and it remains
to be seen whether they will be able
| to smash their way farther, thereby
| forcing more pronounced German re-
| tlrement in this particular section. as
| well as the regions in the direction of
| Laon.
| Haig's men have been particularly
active in two sections to the north of
| the town.
In the immediate vicinity of st. Quen-
| tin they have captured Francilly-
| Selency. Holnom. Selency. st. Quentin
| wood, Nillecholles. Bihecourt, Atilly.
Savy, Vendelles. Berlin admits that the
| British have penetrated their lines in
! this particular section to depth of
two miles. Fierce battles have been
| raging in this section.
| In the region to the southeast of
| Arras the British sweeping forward on
| a front OF ten miles nave
! Doignes. Louverval, Noreuil Longatte.
| E,coust-St Mcn, Croisilles, Henin- sur
! Cojeul. Maisseny, Ronssoy and Metz-e
Couture.
| If the position of the Turkish armies
operating in the regions of the near east
| has been difficult
Turks in Greater in recent weeks
their peril may
Peril Than Ever. now be said to
be complete in almost every respect.
Their development, or at least their COM
plete rout. seems certain in view Of the
latest events.
| British and Russian forces which have
been striving to touch hands over the al
most Iimitless expanses between Russian
positions in Persia and the lower Tisris
regions have at last accomplished their
desired goal, according to announcements
made in London. The Russian forces
operating in southern Persia have
pushed on from Kermanshah and have
captured Khankin. the gateway between
Persia and the plains of Mesopotamia
the British commander, have joined
lhands with the Russians, and the peril OF
the Tuvkish armies in these regions Is
great, for they must retreat before an
enemy which is practically united from
the Tigris river to the Black sea-
Russian forces operating to the south
Of Lake Van, and north OF the point
where the British and Russians have
met, have made considerable progress.