A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 5

A WEEK OF THE WAR

OFFICIAL REVIEW

THE INDISCRETION OF VON

KUHLMANN

Tho following telegraphic review of tho war situation during tho week ending June 29, has been received by Eis Excellency the Governor-General from the Secretary of Stato for tho Colonies:— Von luihlmann's declaration in tho Reichstag: "When one makes a wide survey of events ono must ask, will tho war, according to human calculation, last beyond tho autumn and winter or beyond next year?" caused a sensation in Germany. Tho Germans are no longer told that their groat sacrifices on tho|battlefield will bring speedy peace. Perhaps the change is partly attributable to the Austrian situation. Even while von Kuhlmann was speaking of the "noteworthy successes" of tho Austro-Hun-gnrian armies, their shattered divisions were struggling back across the Piave. Austria is almost starving. Many Austrians are blaming Germany for_ their predicament. Austro-Gennan negotiations seem to make no progress. The Austrians apparently insist upon their own solution of the Polish question, making this condition precedent for further negotiations, antj the Germans are "unlikely to accept it. The differonco is fundamental and most embarrassing to Germany. The completion of a now alliance with Austria is tho keystone of the Jtittcl Eiuopa" policy. Germany's wholo position will bo seriously compromised if she is unablo to complete this speedily. lho Austrian dofeat on the. Piaye is attributed in Vienna partly to the relusal ol th'o Hungarian troops to fight bccause war in Italy is not" considered a menace to Hungarian territory. The mans on the other hand argue that, tni. is treason, and renders it nioro necossap to inoreaso German control in AustriaHungary. Von Kuhlmann and other German 'statesmen havo little to say about the share of the United States in tho war... Yet, they must knowvtliat 900,000 American troops arc already or on their way to France, and the number of xlmemcan-built ships to bo launched on July i will surpass all records. Von Kuhlmann does not expect peace Boon. What sort of peace may tho German pcoplo expect "beyond noxt )ear On tho Piave. On tho Italian front tho campaign began on Juno 15, and reached the end of tho definite phase by Juno -fe. operation being of enemy tho Italian victory may best ] w .'" Lasur '\l t 1 terms of tho Austrian failure. Alter ton days of heavy fighting the Austrians were less well placcd than h et ?}' e - A lost somo 20,000 prisoners, besides about 180,000 killed ana wounded, and considerable material. In one of tho most important sections, British troops contributed materially to tho success, tak g over 1000 prisoners and soveral guns. J. no operations in tho Italian theatre eniphaBize tho unhappy situation of small nationalities forced to tight, undei the> Gor - man yoko. it was noticeable that no German units assisted the Austrian Army, excopt certain battalions," who were armed appaiento only with' pasto brushes and labels which thoy affixed to every desirable movable property showing it had become "the property of- tho Imperial a®™' l Army." This appears- to ha\o spcuaUi annoyed tho Hungarian troops on the Piavo sector. There is evidence also that Czechs and Slav'units on the noi tljern front destroyed their own amn ™* tion dumps. Everywhere they are able, the Czechs, Slavs, and Poles are hghtint against the Germans. The blavo aie enlisting in special units of the Andean Army, and tho Poles m a special legion in Prance, while many soldiers m tho American Army are of German extraction, and glory in tho oPP O1 ™" to, destroy the tyranny to avoid which they or their ancestors wero forced to emigrate to America'. The British Front.- - < Oil tho main British front, -though no large operation has taken place, activity has been continuous. The nevcr-ceasin,, work of reconstruction, training, and preparation involves tnno and labour. Tho Germans claim to ha\o taken 2800 guns and over 8000 machineguns from the Allies between March J. and June'2l, which is far trom true. It is officially stated that British workshops and building yards made good all tho British losses within three weeks. A largo proportion of tho requirements of her Allies wero also provided by Great Britain. The Italian Commander-in-Chief has specially mentioned the following nnits - .—Northumberland Sherwood Foresters, Warwicks, Oxfords, and Bucks Light Infantry. Men from industrial, mamifactm ing, mining, and agricultural districts are all fi"-htiu" in the various theatres of the war. Those left by tho National bervico Tribunals, together with women and children, are working day and night to produce munitions and supplies tor the Allied armies. In the agricultural districts the British home produce has been increased by -nearly 300 per cent., thus releasing shipping and imported foodstutts for our Allies. The War in the Air. Tho statements of enemy prisoners show tho effectiveness of the Allied air work. German infantrymen taken on May 18 said: "About eight days ago a British ilyjng squadron bombed Douai. There were seven hundred. casualties among our troops in the town, four hundred being killed, and much damage was done." A letter captured ill the ( Bapaumo area, dated May 11, says: '"lho enemy aviators cause us much misery. Incessantly dny and night they bombard the main roads. Wo aro not safe anywhere." The Air Ministry reports that tho week has been notable for air work carried out in Prance and Italy under weather conditions which a year or two ago would have made flying impossible. Low clouds, high winds, and frequent heavy rains prevail throughout Europe and the Near East. Yet the Royal Air force, with tho assistance of tho Australian Plying Corp3, directed tiro upon tho enemy batteries, attacked field works and fortifications, dispersed concentrations. Teconnoitred the rear positions, and harassed his troops by bombing and machine-gun -fire. Excellent work has been dono by Canadian pilots. Apart from the coastal enterprises and special work during a raid by an independent force, over ninety tons of bombs have been dropped on military objectives behind "the German lines, nearly two thousand photographs taken and many thousand rounds of small arms ammunition fired from a low height at ground targets. In air fighting thirty-one German machines have been brought down and eight driven down. Nineteen of our machines were missing, against Ihirly-nino of tho enemy's. On tho Italian front tho British airmen took an important, share in defeating the Austrian offensive. On one. day ton enemy machines wero .brought down, eight by British aviators. Many reconnaissances havo been carried out. Oup bombing machines rendered signal service by attacking and destroying bridges and pontoons across the Piave. British airmen havo also been aetivc on lho Balkan front, successfully attacking Rupe and Razenbey dumps, Kimatlarei aerodrome, Angista station, a-nd Nouri Farm dumps. In Palestine the enemy troops iu lho Domos area have been attacked. Our machines dropped over a ton of bombs upon Amman. Direct 1 its wore noted on the station camps and a party of infantry. The usual escort and submarine patrols have been carried out at sea with satisfactory results.

Attacks on Enemy Harbours. Highly-successful raids have been mado on German harbours and shipping naval works on the 'Belgian coast. Five separate attacks were made upon 'lie docks, at Bruges and Ostend, three being within twenty-four hours. During the operations upward:- of nine tons of bombs wero dropped upon the docks at Lo Brugeoiso works, the Thourout railway junction, tho Maria Apltcr aerodrome, tho Zeebruggo sheds, and railway sidings at St. Pierre Capelle. Enemy trawlers and destroyers off Ostend and Zoebruggo

wero also attacked. On the night of tlio 23rd inst. a British independent force nwdo four successive' attacks on Meiz Sablons and dropped six tons of bombs on the station. On the following day tho railway sidings were again bombed, and the factories and sidings at Dillingon and Saarbrucken, and an enemy aeroplane was brought down in flames. All of our machines returned safely. The Food Supply, Medical icports indicate that Lord Rhondda (Food Controller) has made progress during the past week. Tho question of the increased supply of feeding stuffs is receiving serious consideration, in view of the necessity of maintaining the milk supply during the coming winter, and assisting in rearing calves. This will entail increased demands on tho tonnage. Less home-fed meat was consumed, owing to a better supply of imported meat. Sufficient supplies "of mutton havo not been available for civilians.