A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 249, 9 July 1918, Page 5

A WEEK OF THE WAR

OFFICIAL SUMMARY

PIAVB AND WESTERN FRONT

THE ENEMY'S INTERNAL

TROUBLES

The following telegraphic review of the general war situation for tho week ending July C has been received by His Excellency the Governor-General from tho Secretary of Stale for tho Colonies:— Thero have been only minor operations on all the Allied fronts in the AVest. Tho Italians conducted local minor offensives on the northern front, and between tho branches of tho Lower Piave. Tho operations in the north consisted of tho capture of certain important, peaks previously of great assistance •to the enemy in attacking. On tho Hiver Piave the Italian objective has been established on a lino on the eastern branch, thus shortening and strengthening the front. The process of clearing the Austrians from between tha two branches of tho river still successfully proceeds yielding a> considerable number of prisoners. Serious effects have been produced on the Austrian and Hungarian troops by even tho iimited casualty list permitted by the Austrian Government. Tho Hungarian Premier untruthfully reduced tho correct figure by nearly one-half, yet even so tho indignation produced was considerable, and really in both Italian theatres the true figure being, daily, "largely increased. The numerous pris-, oners who have been examined include officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Austrian and Hungarian divisions. All agree that the conditions in tho front line ore very bad, and although officers and men aro not actually starving "They aro always hungry." War weariness- among the troops is considered to bo caused by poor food and underfeeding. Prisoners also agree that the accounts given of tho internal situation are not exaggerated. There is a great dearth everywhere, and disturbances are often i\ngineered by disaffected soldiers returning from captivity in Eussia. These, after months of leave, do not wish to re-enter tho Army. To make matters.worse, this year's crop is ted. _ No food has been sent from the Ukraine, and tho poorer people havo practically no subsistence. Provisions are obtainable in towns in tho smallest quantities at exorbitant prices, so (hat nono but the rich aro able to make ends meet. Secret hoarding slightly cases country life, but even here prices are. prohibitive, and a prisoner's father rorecently paid CBO kronen for ft small pig. Tho population earnestly desires peace, but says that t.Uo war is being continued for the lienefit of the Gormans and tho wealthy classes. Hungarian 'troops complain of ill-treat-ment at the hands of tho Austrians. Hungarian officers and men desiro only to go home. Cormany is frankly hated, and tho general feeling is that the whole war is waged for tho sake of the' German Emperor. On the French Front, On tho French front in two . minor operations tho French retook the high ground between Converts and St. Pierro I'Aigle, and Frenck-Auio'ricaii troops retook Hill 201, in the Chateau Thierry sector. Both operations deprive tho enemy of strong points, and givo tho Allies a position w-hence a distant, view is obtainable which will nmko any enemy attempt to advance along thoso two roads towards Paris moro difficult. On tho British front on tho morning of Friday, June 28, a most successful operation was carried out, on the front between three and four miles eastward of the foiest of Nieppo. Wo' advanced our line about 1500 yards, taking over 400 prisoners, two field guns, a number of machine-guns and trench mortars. Tho , operation was carried out by mon mostly from Yorkshire, Lancashire, and >tho northern counties. Some of the southern English units co-operated. Our casualties wore vory slight,'.and 'tho lino herb was greatly strengthened. Simultaneously tho Australian troops look advantage of tho confusion to capture certain hostile posts west of Merris, \ along 43 'prisoners and six machine-guns. ' On tho morning of July i the Australian troops, assisted by American units carried out a very 'well ' executed minor operation south of the. Sommo in the samo sector where they already had such a remarkable local success. They advanced the lino approximately one and a half miles, capturing the villago of Hainel and Vairo Wood, and. taking about 1500 prisoners, numbers of machine-guns and anti-tank guns. •In addition to the prisoners taken tho German losses wero heavy, whilo tho attack was so well organised that our own losses were execpteally Blight.

The War Women, of Britain. Thrco thousand- women marched through London in various uniforms representing hundreds of thousands now doing war work in England. A .further significant evidence of 'their .patriotic enthusiasm lies in tho fact that not only havo they thus released largo numbers of men for tho fighting forces, hut they are also talcing a very large sharo in the heavy work of providing tho Allied armies as well as our own with many of their requirements. The l f ood Ministry reports that Lord Khondda/s death was received with expressions of deep sorrow from every part of Great Britain. With- unfailing trust in our patriotism ho based his policy upon equality of sacrifice, and was Towarded not only by success, but by tho entire confidence of the people. Tho King sent a warm message of sympathy to Lady Ehondda expressing his owu and the Queen's condolence and senseof. tho national loss shared by the wholo country, which realised in evory homo tho benefits of Lord Rhondda's wort-. Other messages expressive of regret, admiration, and gratitude have been sent, by the Premier and by Mr. Clynes, of the Food Ministry., Tho War in the Air. Tho principal- features of air war during tho week wero notable British raids into Germany, and intense fighting on tho British sectors of the 'Western front in the form of tolling blows upon big industrial centres in the Rhino provinces, upon docks, harbours, and naval works in-Belgium, and upon the enemy's communications, dumps, billets,, and rest camps, behind the line in Prance. Six raids wero made during .tho week opoii aerodromes and hutments at Boulay, four upon tho railway triangle at Mctr.ablon, four upon Mannheim, three upon Snurbrnckcn and Thionville. and two upon Troves and Fresenty, in addition. 1o formidable raids npnn Karthaus, ITagenau, Ziverbrucken, Budwigsdaftcn, Komilly, Oftenburg, a.ud Karlsruhe. At Ofleuburg many direct hits wero observed on the engine sheds and barracks; at Karlsruho two direct hits were scored ,011 the engine works, and a largo explosion was caused in the Mctallurgiqne works. _ At Mannheim, despite bad weaHier, six bursts wer.e observed on tho Badischo Munition Works. Statements by prisoners confirm the spread and intensifying of the anxiety throughout Germany from these raids. On tho enemy's right Hank constant and thoroughly successful attacks were made on docks, submarine bases, and naval works in Zeebrugge, Bruges, and Outbid. Many hits wero observed at Zeebruggc, Gliisfellcs sheds and docks, liruges ami Vnhillebrugge dump, etc., thirty tons of bombs being dropped. On tho land front proper, almost no important points were left unbombed. Over 219 tons of bombs were dropped, hundreds of batteries engaged, thousands, of photographs taken and a vast number of rounds of small arms-ammunition was fired. Here alone, 113 enemy aeroplanes and six balloons were destroyed, of which 57 were broueht down. Altogether 195 enemy machines wero brought down by tho British airmen, only 52 of our own machines being reported missing. Valuable reconnaissance and photographic work were carried nut. in Italy. Seven enemy machines were brought down, and but one of our machines is missing. Aerial activity also continues with similar good results on the Balkan front, in Palestine, and at sea. Germany and Austria Within.. Darkness still surrounds tho German situation regarding von Kuhlmann's

speech -n-liich reveals deep subterranean cleavage- in German opiniou, so that it is doukful if von Kuhhniuin will not bo forced to resign. Negotiations between Austria and Germany proceed without progress. A iiotablo symptom is the outspoken attitude of Hungary, where there are indications of a stiffening of tho altitude towards Germany. Tho "Xcuc Freio I'rosse" of Juno fl reports an interview with the German | ViceChancellor, von I'nyer, on a Central European Union. He suggests a communication to tho Cental Powers. "So intimate Hint the idea of separation should in fact bo excluded, no matter whether the agreement is concluded for ever or for many Tears." Leadinn Hungarian politicians criticise this and admit no idea that would infringe the sovereignty of Hungary. They aro prepared to make economic arrangements with Germany, but onlv on terms profitable to Hungary. Count Tiza declared in the: Hungarian Parliariient on June 10: "Tho German Vice-Chancellor will have to revise his ideas if he seriously desires an alliance with us." The Hungarian Premier, Wokerle, significantly observed that tho paper's pronouncement is not made officially, but only in an interview. The change in tho Bulgarian Government shows Bulgarian discontent with their German and Turkish Allies, who are denvjng her her full share in the spoils, jr. Malinoff represents the .intransigent policy as regards the wholo of the T)obruja and Western Thrace, but though the. chanre of Ministry slices a weariness of the rulers and of the. war thero is no indication of a less pro-German policy. , • t, • i Recently current events in Russia and Siberia, together with the English Labour Parry's conference and tho appearance of Kercnsky, all tend to show a stiffening in universal enthusiasm in favour of helping the real Enssia to free herself from tho Gorman peril and infernal disorder so as to achieve true freedom with the active sympathy of the Allied forces of democracy.