THE WEEK'S WAR

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16259, 9 July 1918, Page 6

THE WEEK'S WAR

SECRETARY OF STATE'S REVIEW.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS

(PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, July 8

The following telegraphic review of tho general war situation for the weoK ending July 6UI has been received by the Governor-General from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies: —

There have been only minor operations on all the Allied fronts in 'ho West.

Tho Italians conductcd local minor offensives on tho northern front and between the branches of tho Lower Piave. The operations in the north consisted of the capture of certain important peaks previously of great assistance to tho enemy. In attacking on the river Piave the Italian objective has been to establish the line on the eastern branch, thus shortening and strengthening tho front. Tlio process of clearing tho Austrians from between the two branches of tho river is proceeding successfully, and_ yielding a considerable number of prisoners.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRIA. Serious effects have been produced on the Austrian and Hungarian troops bv even tho limited casualty list permitted by the Austrian Government. The Hungarian Premier untruthfully reduced the correct figure by nearly half, yet even so the indignation ,">ruduced was considerable. Tho true figure is being largely increased daily. The numerous prisoners examined cludo officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of Austrian and Hungarian divisions. All agree that tho conditions in tho front lino are very bad, and although officers and men are not actually starving, they nro always hungry. War weariness among tho troops, it is considered, is causod by poor food and underfeeding. The prisoners also agree that the accounts given of tho internal situation aro not exaggerated. There is <rreat dearth everywhere, and disturbances are often engineered by disaffected soldiers returning from captivity in Russia who, after months of leave, do not wish to re-enter the army. To mako matters worse, this year's crop is bad. No food has been sent fro'ii the Ukraine, and the poorer neoplc '.avo practical'.? no means of subsistence. Provisions are obtainable in the towns in _ iho smallest quantities at exorbitant prices, so none but the rich is able to make ends meet. Secret boarding slightly eases country life, but even hero prices are prohibitive, and a prisoner's father recently naid 6SO kronen for a small pig. The populatnn earnestly desire peace, but say the war is continued for the benefit of the Germans and wealthy classes. The Hungarian troops complain of ill-treatment at . the hands of tho Austrians. Tho Hungarian officers and men desire oniy to go home. Germany is frankly hated, and the general feeling is- that the whole war is being waged for the sake of the German Emperor.

THE WESTERN FRONT. On the French front, in two minor operations, the French retook the ground between Coeuvrette and St. l'icirre L'Aigle, and French and American troops retook Hill 204 in the Chateau i'hierry sector. Both operations deprive the enemy of strong points, and give the. Allies a position whence a distant view is obtainable, which will mako any enemy attempt lo advance along those two roads towards Pari3 more difficult.

On the British front on tho morning of Friday, June 28th f a most successful operation was carried out on a front of between three aud four miles eastward of the Forest of Nieppe. Wo advanced _ our lino about 1600 yards, taking over 400 prisoners, two field guns, and a number of machino-gutts and trench mortars. Tho operation was carried out by men mostly from Yorkshire, Lancashire, and .the Northern counties, but some Southern English units co-operated. Our casualties were very slight, and the line here has been greatly strengthened. Simultaneously Australian troops took advantage of the confusion to capture, cortain hostile posts west of Merris, taking 43 prisoners and sir machine-guns. On tho morning of July 4th Australian troops, assisted by American units, carried out a very well-executod minor operation south of tho Sbmme, in the same sector, where they have already had such romarkable local success. They advanced tho line approximately H miles, capturing the village of Hamel and the Vaire Wood, taking about 1500 prisoners, numbers of ma-chine-guns, and anti-tank guns. In addition to prisoners, the Gorman losses were heavy, while the attack was so ■well orean'"«ed that our own losses wero exceptionally slight. WOMEN AND THE WAR.

Three thousand women, representing the hundreds of thousands now doing war work in England, marched through London in various uniforms. Further significance of their patriotic enthusiasm lies in the fact that not only have they thus roleased largo numbers of men tor the fighting forces, but they are also taking a very large share in tho heavy work of providing tho Allied armios as well as our own, with many of their requirements.

LORD RHONKDA'S DEATH. Tho Food Ministry reports that Lord Rhondda's death was received with expressions of deep sorrow from every part of Groat Britain. With unfailing trust in our patriotism, he based his poiicy upon tho equality of sacrifice, and was rewarded not only by success, but by the entire confidence of the people. The King sent a warm message of sympathy to Lady Rhondda, expressing his own and tho Queen's condolence, and tho sense of the national loss shared by the whole country, which realised in every home tho benefits of Lord Rhondda's work. Other messages, expressive of rogret, admiration, and gratitude, have been sent by tho Premier and by Mr J. R. Clynos, of the Food Ministry.

AERIAL ACTIVITY. Tho principal features of the air war during the week were the notable British raids into Germany, and the intense fighting on the British sectors of the Western front, in tho form of telling blows upon the big industrial centres in tho Rhine provinces, upon docks, harbours, and naval works in Belgium, and upon the enemy's communications, dumps, billets, and rost camps behind tho line in Franco. Six raids were made during the week upon aerodromes and hutments at Boulay, four upon the railway in the trianglo or _ Metz Sablons, four on Mannheim, _ three on ' Saarbrucken and Thionville, two on Treves anu Frescaty, in addition to formidiMo raids upon Karthans, Hagnah, Zweibrucken, BudwigsdaFten, Kernillv. Offenourg, and Karlsruhe. At Offenbur/, manj* direct hits were observed on engine sheds and barracks: at Karlsruhe two direct hits on engine-works, and a large explosion was caused in the metallnrgiqne works at Mannheim. In spite of bad weather, six bursts wero observed on the Badische -munition works. Statements by prisoners confirm the dread and intensifying anxiety caused throughout Germany by these raids.

On the enemy's right flank, constant and thoroughly successful attacks were | made on docks, submarine bases, and | naval works in Zeebrugge. Bruges, and j Ostend. Many hits were observed it Zcebrugge, Ghistelles, on sheds and docks at Bruges and ValieHebruggo, dumpß, etc. Thirty tons of bombs wero dropped on the land front proper. Al- j most no important points were left on-1

bombed. Over 219 tons of bombs were dropped, hundreds of batteries engaged, thousands of photojp-aphs taken, and a vast number of rounds of small arms ammunition fired. Hero alone 113 enemy aeroplanes and trtr balloons w£re destroyed, of which 67 were brought down. Altogether 193 enemv machines were brougnt down by tho British. Only 52 of our machines are reported missing. Valuable reconnaissance and photographic work have been carried out in Italy. Seven enemy machines wer« brought down, and but one of our "y chines is missing.

Aerial activity also continues witK similar good results on the Balkui front, in Palestine, and at sea.

THE CENTRAL POWERS,

Darkness still surrounds the German situation regarding Herr von Kuhlmnnn's spcecli, which reveals a deep subterranean cleavage in German opinion, so it is doubtful if von Kuhlmann will be forced to resign.

Negotiations between Austria And Germany proceed without progress. A notable svmptom is the outspokeu attitude of Hungary, where there aro indications of a stiffening attitude towards Germany. The "Neue Freie Presso" of June 9th reports an interview with tho German Vice-Chancellor von Payer on central European union. 110 sug. pests a communication of the Central Powers "so intimate that the idea tf separation should in fact bo excluded no matter whether the agreement 19 concludcd for ever or for so many years." Leading Hungarian politicians criticise this, and admit no idea that would infringe tho sovereignty of Hungary. They nro prepared to mako economic arrangements with Germany but only 011 terms profitable to Huncrary. Count Tisza declared in the Hungarian Parliament on June lfttb. "The Vice-Chancellor will have to viso his ideas if he seriouslv desires an alliance with us." The Hungarian Premier. Dr Wekerle, significantly observed that the paper's pronouncement was not made officially, but was onlv an interview. K

Tho change in the Bulgarian Government shows Bulgaria's discontent with her German and Turkish allies in denying her her full share of the spoils M.Maniloff represents an intransigsni policy as regards the whole of the Dobrudja and Western Thrace, but though the change of Ministry show* a weariness of rulers and war, therms no indication of a less pro-German policy than recently current.

RUSSIA AND HER FUTURE Events in Russia and Siberia, ' togotiier with the English Labour Party Conference and the appearance of Af kcrensky, all tend to show a stiffening in tho universal enthusiasm in favour of helping the real Russia to free herself from the German peril nn d ; n . ternal disorders fn ns her O? +lil re |frr' G active sympathy of the Allied forces of democracy.