Actually official statement is more like...
The provincial bonuses will not be changed at this time due to them adding an element of required tactics to the Provincial maps. However as things progress there may contain minor changes as the situations change for how battles take place.
I asked the question how to beat the Industrial age continent using Industrial age troops. See link
http://forum.en.forgeofempires.com/showthread.php?26227-Continental-Map-Attack-and-Defense
As the only reply implied you could only do it with PE troops and no responses gave me any incling that it could be done, one can only assume that it is NOT in fact possible.
This can only conclude that the Industrial age Continent map IS imbalanced.
For example, In Navarrone. My Howitzer (Heavy) at 21% is 42, 42 versus Jaeger (Light) 39,52 so the advantage of Heavy over Light is completely cancelled out. This applies to all units, so it is impossible to get an advantage over the enemy.
Please look to rebalance the Continents.