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Show IMPORTANT GAINS 10EJI ALLIES CONFIDENCE IS GROWING THAT COMING OFFENSIVE WILL BE SUCCESSFULLY MET. Allies Are Now Deluging German Positions Po-sitions and Rear Communications With Shell Fire, Roar of Cannon Being Heard for Miles. London. The allies have recently made substantial gains, of a local nature, na-ture, it is true, but of great importance, impor-tance, nevertheless, because a yard gained' in this preparatory tactical struggle may mean miles when the battle of movement reopens. These consistent Franco-British successes suc-cesses in the jockeying for tactical positions that precedes the inevitable revival of the great western battle are greeted both here and in Paris with the greatest gratification. 'Kiev strengthen the confidence that Hindoo-burg's Hindoo-burg's blow, no matter when or where or how it is struck, will be parried and parried effectively. All the world is aflutter with rumor and gossip and speculation about the next stage of the titanic battle. German Ger-man newspapers no longer declare llatly that it will be "the last stage." They no longer strive to convince tin people that the allies will be struck down by one huge blow. Bather, they are preparing the populace for a series of battles which is a considerabb "crawl" from the original bombastic boastfulness of the enemy press. The Paris correspondent of the International In-ternational News Service sums up reliable re-liable advices from the British and French front as indicating that the allies are now deluging the Gorman positions and rear communications with an unprecedented shell fire. The average in this tornado of hot metal is allies fifteen shells to one German. All of the enemy's road and crossroads cross-roads and villages are smothered with shells day and night. ' The roar of the allied cannon is heard forty miles behind be-hind the front. , German troop concentrations are continually cut up, the enemy thus losing heavily before he can even throw his masses into a new life-devouring assault. Meanwhile, the allied aircraft are not losing a moment in harassing the foe and scattering ilea Hi and destruction behind his lines French and British flyers are dump ing tons of high explosive projectile.--every hour of the day nnd night. All tins intense and effective work of destruction de-struction seems to give the German troops a punch in the jaw before the light starts. |