The Flanders salient has been greatly reduced, to our advantage,
during the week. Persistent nibbling by our patrols, with an occa- sional bite by larger forces, has driven the enemy several miles back all along his western front—an irregular crescent resting on Bailleul to the north and on positions near Locon on the south. Last Sunday a British attack from the north gained us the long low ridge in front of Merril, with the village of Oultersteene and six hundred and seventy-six prisoners. On Monday another attack from the west on a wider front enabled our men to enter the little town of Merville on the Lye. Later on the same day the advance was continued beyond Merville, and oe Tuesday the new front was joined up to the Oultersteene Ridge. On Wednesday our men advanced close to Neuf Berquin. The enemy is at a disadvan- tage in the low-lying valley ol the-Lys, which is overlooked from the higher ground westwards. But if he retires from the flats his valuable northern positions at Bailleul and Kemmel will become untenable, and with them his hope of outflanking Ypres will vanish.
Previous page
