Germans stopped

Allies resume offensive

The Dardanelles

Troops establish firm footing

Neutral nations impressed

Good news after bad stands out in bold relief and it is a chastening thought that just as sombre intelligence may be given an aspect too black so the more hopeful tidings may be exaggerated.

The mercurial temperament has been much in evidence during this war and in a great deal that has been written ballast has been conspicuously lacking. Up in the clouds one day and down in the dug out the next represents a frame of mind which fluctuates against the giving of anything in the nature of sane guidance.

Undoubtedly the reports which came to hand yesterday afternoon gave to the positions much more roseate appearance and we are entitled to make the most of the actual facts.

For the present the German advance has been stopped and the offensive is once more with the allies who have already reclaimed some portion of lost ground and look like getting back the whole of it before we are very many days older.

The attempt to re-establish the line from Bixhoose to Langemarck has met with partial success on the left and in the centre, on the right, in consequence of the Germans holding ground which can be defended from the gun positions east and northwards of Hill 60, the task is of greater difficulty though not impenetrable.

Ypres as far as can be judged is once again safe but the retention of this important point is likely for some little time to be more expensive than it was prior to the sudden German dash and there should be no surprise if we hear of renewed enemy attacks either North of Ypres or elsewhere in the short time which has witnessed such activity of late.

It seems desirable however to insist upon the very important fact that so far the allies line has not been pierced, that indeed the Germans have been brought to a standstill and can have but little hope of achieving now what they failed to do when admittedly they took us somewhat at a disadvantage.

They are still running troops to the western battle line and very shortly it may safely be surmised they will be opposing the whole of their available strength to the more greatly reinforced armies of the allies.

In such a struggle display what skill resource and bravery they may, only one result can be looked for. The fighting may and probably will develop in intensity but we have the enemy’s full measure and the future may be regarded with a great measure of confidence.

On a side issue the employment by the enemy of sulphur dioxide, some alarming not to say alarmist views have been expressed but British chemists of eminence we learn are convinced that it will not take very long to find an effective method of neutralising the effects of the noxious fumes.

It has already been shown that these gases can only be of service when the wind is blowing direct from one army to the other as was the case in the fighting around the Yser canal last week and even then the binding of wet linen around the mouth and nostrils is a very considerable protection, the damp causes the gases to condense on the surface of the cloth so that all ill effects quickly pass away.

In any case it is most unlikely that we shall copy the enemy in the use of such war law-breaking devices especially after such strong expression of opinion in both Houses of Parliament.