It is true that the British lost several trenches to
the enemy at the beginning of the week, but the greater part of them had been recaptured "at this of writing." It is quite possible that before our next issue—that is, in the present case, ten days hence—the French will have advanced in the region of Reims, and also that there will be progress to report near the coast, where the activity of the British flotilla continues to produce good results. It is, however, not much good to speculate. We must be content to feel that in Flanders we and our allies are holding our own and something more. Will the Germans, we wonder, think that the Christmas holidays will be a moment when we can be caught napping, and so choose the coming week to attack us ? It is quite possible. All we can say is that if they do they will have made a miscalculation. The military authorities are fully prepared for a Christmas surprise from Berlin, and we shall be not unready, but ready also for a New Year raid by sea or by air or by land. We repeat once more that at this moment the country is better prepared to resist all attacks than ever in its history. It is even better prepared than it was a fortnight ago. The Scarborough raid has made our sailors and soldiers more vigilant than ever.
