Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-08
OLD WORLD AGLOW
WITH BATTLE: BLAzES
North Sea, Verdun, Adriatic, Sofia,
Mediterranean, Great Desert
Fronts Scenes of Struggles.

Washington. d. c., Oct. "a review
of the war situation rs summarized ny
n military expert follows:
L with practically the entire war the
atrc ablaze from the North Sea to YER
dun, from the Adriatio to the Oriental
railroad neer Sofia and from the Med
iterranean to the great Syrian Desert,
each dav necessarily brings so great a
wealth of important news that 1t Is DIT
fcult TO record in small space even
the clements of what has happened
Comment therefore. on even the most
important of the worlds events must DE
brief
TURKS CUT OFF At DAMASCUS.
General Allcnby has taken quick adj
vantage of the situation ms strategy
produced in Palestine and has occupied
Damascus To effect this he forced his
way across the Jordan, joined hands
with the Arabs and completely closed
against the remnants of the Turkish
army what was left of the routes TO the
north.
There are certain difficulties To he met
in further operations which must bc
recognized The principal OF these is
the change in the character of the coun-
try between the coast and the Jordan
rs the advance north continues In
stead of broad belt of lowland sloping
very gradually to the sea. VIC now find
the mountains running down almost tn
the waters edge. Progress in such couu-
try must necessarily be painfully slow.
communication is difficult, and commu =
ication between the sea and the battle
line hard TO MAINTAIN.
CLOSING IN ON BEYRoUT.
This condition will be somewhat at
lcviated by the capture of the railroad
from Damascus TO Beyrout. The details
of Alenhys movements have not reached
us as vet, but we may be sure that he
IL making every effort to reach this
road and occupy Bevrout. the most
important seaport Of Palestine II is
not clear that Turkey has any army
between Allenby and his goal From
such information ~ we have he cannot
Ire opposed by anything more than
guerrilla bands
For reasons which are we'll under
~,ood. Turkey must inevitably soon quit
he Wal Not only must she see tho
handwriting on The wall in the west, but
Bulgaria action has scaled her fate.
The British activities in Palestine and
probably soon in Mes lpotamls will hast
IN the decision
CLEARING BELGIUM COAST.
On the Flanders front the British and
tie Balgians are continuing their move
1uent looking first to the clearing of the
Belgian coast Is far as Tire Dutch frontier
and. what IS of equal importance, the
cnveloping Of Lille, rouroolng. and
Roubaix They have crossed the Menin-
Roulers Railroad and are advancing
steadily toward Courtrai,
The German situation IN this section
j, becoming desperate. Lille was guarded
~ h.
north BY the I've River But this defense
has gone. the British having forced
crossing of the river between Wervicq
and Commines This is q direct threat
to close from the north the pincers
which the British have created IN the
last four DAYS Considering this part
Of the line alone il is difficult TO see how
German, can postpone retreat on
WIDE front. at least from Lille 20 the sea.
AWAIT FLIGHT TIL WINTER.
This may not. Of course. come within
the reNt few DAYS In fact there ~ every
reason Why the Germans should wish
Ia delay il until the advancing Winter
has imposed greater obstacles in the
way Of the pursuit Should Germany
Nv 10 retreat while the weather Is good
aud with the whole front ablsze, would
be likely TO meet with something akin
already 10 straIghten out the line some
hat 50 as to avoid the necessity of any
PERCEPTIONS movement, as Is indicated
tx the fact that Germany Is withdraw
q on both sides Of the La BaSsee Canal
No details are available. however. s.
to The extent of this withdrawal so that
= meaning Is not vet clear
DOUBLE OPERATION AT CAMBRIA.
Further south the British are engaged
IN double operation about Cambria
the suburbs Of which they hold To the
north they are pushing their way slowly
hut STEADILY along the northern edge Of
3, he city toward the Scheldt Canal The
canal is a serious obstacle and ii may
be doubted whether the British will try
Ia complete the circle about Cambria
from the north MUCH more probable is
il that they will continue TO push the
situation south Of the city, where they
4nrd(Already well beyond the canal from
[nbrai 70 Creve Occur 1t Is therefore
- logical to anticipate that the main
Effort will continue in this direction,
the attempt being made to get ar u d
he town from the east.
BsIrIsH POSITION IMPRot I'd.
The second operation Is u little fur
ther south and consists IN an effort 10
flank the Scheldt Canal from Creve
Occur TO lie Catelet The Germans
have remained behind this obstacle for
several days Yesterday the British
took Creve Occur on the north and
launched a heavy attack between Beau
revoir and Sequehart to encircle 1t from
the south and obtain possession Of the
high plateau east OF the canal Good
progress was made, although German
reaction pi.shed the advance bacl, slightly
Nevertt elusH the steady advance Of
the British has greatly benefited their
position both abou- Cambria and south
10 the east OF ri. : .enmn.'