24 AUGUST 1918, Page 1

No sooner had General Byng completed his advance north of

the Mere and beaten off heavy counter-attacks than General Rawlinson began a new offensive south of the Mere. On Thursday morning the Fourth Army attacked oa the five-mile front between Albert and Bray, where the enemy was holding strong positions in force. The issue, as we write, is not known, but it may be pointed out that the enemy regards this as the vital sector of his front on the Somme.