COMMENTS ON THE OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 217, 1 June 1918, Page 7

COMMENTS ON THE OUTLOOK

' CONFIDENT FEELING THAT TIDE WILL BE STEMMED Paris, May 30. ■ The French High Command is confident that it will be ablo lo stem tho German advance shortly. Paris and London arc both convinced that the Crown Prince's advance will bo arrested. The Allied reserves are believed-_ to be simile General l'oth's problem is to economise them,by sending sulhcieut lo bav the road to Paris without unduly weakening the northern positions- llw iailways and roads are crowded with English, French, and American troops, moving to the battle. Commentators view most seriously tho wulcmiii? of: tho flanks yesterday, and point out that the dominant factor throughout the Flanders offensive was the tenacious retention of tho flanks by tho Bnlieh.-Aus.-JN.Z. f.ablo Assn. GERMAN RUSH MORE FIRMLY HELD (Rcc. May 31, 11.30 p.m.) London, May,3l. On tho Soissons-Eeims front tho Allies now seem to be holdingthe German rusLmbow fiiX Bcservos arc arriving in greater numbers. The Brnnden- ™ who captured Soi=sons have no» yet been able to widen nrther the Gernn front of the advance on the west, where they are being held at the outlets "f the town From Soissone tho battlelino runs south-east to tho Pans railway through Iho' Ourcfi Valley. In tlio Fcre-en-Tardcnois region the enemy advanced eighteen m les in four days. From Fero tho Franco-Bril.sh troops are mS "firm stand alon B tlio high weeded ground running north-west to'"aids Reims, through Brouillel, and on lo Thillois.-"The limes.' A DANGEROUS SALIENT (Rec. Mny 30, 7.15 p.m.) London. May 30. The "Pall Mall Gazette's" military correspondent savs: "The loss of ■q n ii«n is will render it possible for the enemy to widen tho Compo;gne-Mont-dto'a it om which a grand b through may feasibly be ««*mpt«l. Tic '-round wurh of the Vesle towards Paris is broken «nd studded with woods, offerinir extensive facilities for for defonce."-United Service. THE REAL PROBLEM London, May 30. General- Maurice writing in the "Daily Chronicle," soys that (lie latest estimate of tho German reserves on the West front is eighty divisions, of which 'evenly are between Helms and the coast "Assmmr, ? it to be true that tho 1 fiiemv drew sixteen for lh« Aisnc attack, and others.since it began, it 15 doubt'f if ho has drawn in more than a Ihiril of his bailie reserve. "We must Uierefnrn ptnpct'further dovelnpinnnls. The enemy may well be templed by his success to draw more reserves and aim at (lie Mnrne, to cut the Paris-Chalons railir v Unless lio reaches tho Marne, the advaneo- southward will not materially affect tho genera! situation Moreover, i>: order to reach Ihe Marne, safety re"liirps him to widen his base. Tin must secure Reims and Solssons, which ho is i'mnrpnllv trviii" t<> do. Reims has censed to have more than a sentimental v-iliip" Soiswns"is important, because it links the Aisue and Somme battlefields. u~ t»n wniiiil fiiable the enemy to widen his attacking front towards Amiens or I-nri" The r«!l7roWe.» now is whether General Foci, or the Crown Prince will bo compelled lo use up. the most reserves. -Aus.-N.i. Cable Assn.

MATTERS FOR FUTURE INQUIRY Paris, May 30. "TiWle" sMS—"How Iho Germans « ore able to surprise, us und suddenly ,■nnoir fn ir times' more numerous tlmn before must be instigated Inter. Pris-,',ZV-on on May 25 described on oncrmoiis concentration of troops and ™H "nU said that an attack was fixed for May 27."-l!cuter. ENEMY'S SUCCESS DUE TO MACHINE-GUN SUPERIORITY London, May 30. The "Times" envs that there are now 210 enemy divisions on the West front, ~ •„, , imn i n fif,.nn«tli to attack elsewhere. Paris is endangered, but Paris had "l " tene<l Wore, by the enemy when far nearer it* sates. The Allied re- '," ' L , o i,, e „,, but the enemy is increasing Ins advantage, and it is feared IhVl his adr.noc is not yet stayed, lie is now on the high road leading to Vil- ' fni-fpri.ts forty-five miles from Pans. British anil French officers agree Mini tho enemy's success was duo to Kii great numerical superiority in machinct'lins links infantry, and artillery. 'Hi we was little congestion and no confiis on on the front,' though th« roads Wiind were covered with homeless fngi\ivps '['he Bnelish and French troops fought in perfect comradeship. The hriiisli Wth Division ivilhstond the most violent thrust at Crapnnc, which was nidmi bv (lie largest '.lumber of tanks ever scon in action. Tim SOth's were fiiinllv compelled to fall back with the French and British divisions on the lii'iii ■ind left British officers, whilo blcwing up bridges over tlio Aisne, were ihomselvos blown ui)."-"The Times.'' A POLICY OF OPPORTUNISM London, Jlay 30. Mr Hamilton IM'e, correspondent of the "Daily Mail," writes:—"The Ilin-•lcnbur"-Lu(lendorlT strategy seems to bo i>. policy of opportunism to try here and there and wherever successful to press on. Seven divisions first attacked on Ihe \isnc six "leap-fnW'l" over these, and ciprhfc followed to keep up the vigciir of Hie thrust. They have since boen largely increased, the units bcinu nrincipallv drawn from reserves. Tim Germans were much inoro careful to preserve secrecy than formerly, and the officers wero unaware till the last moment ol the nians. The troops were moved bv night, and the reserves scattered as much as possible, so that tho Allied airmen would uot detect i\us.-N.Z. Cable A6SU,