In the western theatre of war the Allies have distinctly
improved their position during the week. The well-kept line now stretches from Dunkerque to the Swiss frontier, and all along it there has once more been a slow but steady advance. For example, the British forces now hold the town of Ypres, a town famous throughout the world for one of the most magnificent of mediaeval buildings, the great Cloth Hall. In Ypres, perhaps more even than in Bruges, the spirit of the Middle Age is embalmed in stone. Speaking generally, how- ever, the position is even more markedly that of " chock-a- block " than it was when we wrote last week. But there is one very important change from the British point of view. On Friday the correspondents were allowed to state that the British forces have been moved to the extreme left of the line of the Allies. They are thus close to the sea, and within easy reach of their real base, which is of course England.
