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Show FORECASTS A GIATJATTLE British Are About to Test the Strength of the German Reserves. LONDON, Sept. 27. On his return from a visit to tho Italian front, Major Gonoral F. B. Maurice, chiof director of military operations at tho war of-floo, of-floo, today discussed tho situation in Flanders with the Associated Press. "During tho past month thoro has boon a long pause, thanks to tho rain and mud In Flandors," ho said. "Tho pause mado necessary more amplo preparations than ordinarily after a first advance preparations equlvalont to launching an ontlrely now battle. "Tho fighting yesterday was In tho most vital area, tho ridge system dominating domi-nating tho plain of FlanderB and tho key to tho wholo series of rldgoH. "Tho Gormans havo done thoir best to kcop us off tho sorlos of ridges. Whon wo finish getting tbeao ridges, wo shall claim a victory. "The question this is whether wo can exploit that victory, and exploiting exploit-ing it depends upon whether wo havo got more reserves than tho onomy. Thus far tho Gorman wastago has been much greater than ours and thoy havo used 75 por cent more divisions than wo slnco July 31." Tho ridge over which tho fighting is now in progress is virtually all that separates tho allies from tho plains of Flanders. Although tho official Gorman Gor-man communications today havo been claiming British dofeats or discounting tho advances mado, tho despornto resistance re-sistance of the Gormans Is an indication indica-tion of tho vital significance of tho recent re-cent allied gains. Gorman officers takon prisoner admit ad-mit tho seriousness of tho situation for their country. oo Siamese fishermen use boats with low, sloping whito sldos that frighten flBh so that they leap over tho sides into waiting nets. i |