From the British front the news has not been important.
All the signs show, however, that in every part of our line we possess the local mastery. This will not, of course, prevent the enemy attempt- ing to anticipate attack by us by himself " seizing the initiative." Whether he does this or not will depend upon how strong he feels himself to be at threatened points, or at any rate at points at which he believes he is threatened. The situation is too delicate to be dis- cussed in public, but we may permit ourselves to say this. When we come to grips with the Germans we shall be the real attackers, no matter who begins the struggle. If the Germans begin it, they will only be attacking as tho best form of defence. If we begin, it will not be to defend ourselves, but because we hold that the hour has struck. There are, of course, many slips in war, but we can only say that all persons who have returned from the front during the past ten days tell the same tale as that which we see is attributed in Thursday's papers to Lord Crewe—i.e., that all the omens in our line just now are most favourable. The nation can await the hoisting of the storm-cone with equanimity.
