Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-11

sumed the enemy's big. main effort will
be in that direction" said a representa-
tive of Gen. Delma Radcliffe. chief
war office.sin summing up the weeks
war developments today. TT is equally
certain that he will not. discontinue his
attacks in Flanders"
In the period between March 81. when
the German offensive was begun, and
April % the losses Of the French were
only one-fourth to one-fifth those of
the British. Gen. Radcliffe's represen-
tative added. Since April 25, he said.
there has been no reason to believe the
| losses of the French have been any
heavier than those of the British. (The
losses of the British since March 21
were estimated on May by the British
military mission at Washington at
nearly 25o,000)
This information was given out in
refutation of German propaganda as
sertions that the French have been
bearing the brunt of the battle
"Must Look to End Of Battle"
"In considering the course of these
battles" said the statement, cit must
always be remembered that the capture
of any particular position is not a ma
terial factor. Mere geographical gains
are not the main considera ton. 1t Is
rather question of staying power
We must look to the end Of the battle
While the German gain in Flanders
is important, owing to the narrowness
Of our front. We must not judge by the
loss of one position or another. The
end of the battle will come when one
side exhausts its reserves or. reaches
other.
The Germans have put in consider
able number of fresh divisions, both in
Flanders and on the Somme front. dur
ing the last week and this is satisfac-
tory to us. for it shows that we are
getting through their fresh divisions
very fast The enemys proximity to
the heights in Flanders makes it likely
that he will continue his attacks there,
despite the lack of success during the
last week
Operations in Mesopotamia.
1.-THE operations in Mesopotamia during
tho last week include the occupation
of kirkuk, which was taken bv tho
Euphrates force, with which a mobile
force from the Tigris co-operated. The
Turks abandoned the town, leaving 900
wounded. three airplanes and a large
quantity of ammunition
This operation would have resulted
IN a much larger number of prisoners
except for storm which developed ehe
previous. day. interfering with our
transport.
These operations are not designed
with the idea of gaining a mere geo
graphical advantagefi but with the idea
OF interfering as far as possible with
the Turkish army. In such operations
it does not follow that when we 90 to
a certain place we are going to stay
there. Say
In Mesopotamia the developments al
ready have had an excellent effect on
the Persian border tribes, of which a
considerable number now are co-operat-
I'M Ing with us against the Turks. The
ufklsh plan to invade Persia, contrary
10 their solemn agreements with Persia
mas been scotched for the time being
ny our advance. which exposes the
Turkish right flank
In Palestine our Es-salt operations
we're equally successful. resulting in
large losses to the Turks and an excel
lent effect on the Arabs. while our pos
session of the bridseheads will keep the
large Turkish force 1mmobile as a pre-
caution against further operations on
our part"