A WEEK OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 266, 30 July 1918, Page 5

A WEEK OF THE WAR

— $ FOCH'S COUNTER-OFFENSIVE THE REACTION IN EMEMY'S COUNTRIES important allied food conference GREAT AIR RAIDS

The following telegraphic rovlW of tns general war situation for the w«ek i.i. 'I, - v 28 ' ias been received by His iiXtelleiicy the Governor-General from tno Ministry of information:— thi f'n been time yet to see mo full political reaction in Germany ana Austria in consequence of the t'ail- ! ot the most recent offensive, but it r«c^ onfl ?°", y expected, that the successes ot the Allied counter-attack will men? fn u Ver ?. slloc ' i: am ' a 'lisappointIh,' ™ • G 1 ermillls > who believed in tiiu promises. ot the .Military Party that nvmi [^ all vlc toi'y and a German peaco z b - v „ the P rese 'it campaign. ~1 PareiKly the Emperor appointed Dr. by tlm advice of the milir,nififi i i "jthout consulting the political leaders. The Reichstag is seri- « 1.1 annoyed, and is nit soothed by 'the adjournment, lor this means a further victory by the Military Party over the - I ? f l u P fc von Hertling's theory i s Belgium as a "pawn" in 'tho peace negotiations hn.9 been most clearly Mr BaFfour exi ' ose;l untl deaie <l by

Disruption in Austria. Disiuption continues in Austria. Lurce nuinbaio of Czech soldiers arc reported to be deserting front tho Army aim waniwnng into tne mountains, where tney aie organising themselves in builds, witli mnnil l 'i CreC i Syi, i 1: ' i ' l: ,' ly oi the peasants. An u oK '° r . by tlie officer commanding tuo I lzemysl garrison abundantly shows tno decay ot discipline amongst the Austrian troops. jo rom this it would seem mat all tho army regulations as regards umtorms, salute, decorations, order and decency of every kind are now completely neglected, llio commanding oiiicer expatiates grievously on tho complete and universal disregard for military discipline, and threatens to prohibit private soldiers using the streets in order to prevent the continuation of such a scandalous state of squalor, neglect, and disorder. So bad are things that when "I drive in my automobile I am pained to notice J. am seldom saluted."

Bulgaria and Turkey at Odds. Bulgaria and Turkey begin to realise tlu- dangers ot their alliance ivitli the Central .lowers. German promises lo Bulgaria aro irreconcilable with German promises to Turkey, and now that Bulgaria and Turkey arc both claiming 'the lulnlmeut of the respective promises both necessarily are on the worst terms with each other and with Germany.

The Other Side of the Picture, But amongst tho Allies co-operation, co-ordination, and unanimity in the prosecution ami purposes of tlio war everywhere aro most remarkable. A great number of American troops have already arrived, and more still arc constantly coming, while the French, British, American, and Italian troops all have shared in the military successes of the past weeks. On July 21 tho Pood Controllers ot tlieso four L'owers hoid a. meeting in London for further co-ordination in the production and distribution of food. President Wilson telegraphed: "Tho American people are gladly willing to make ony sacrifico in the consumption and production of foodstuffs to maintain the health, comfort, and courage of the Allied countries. We are, in i'act, eating at the common table with them." ■ The War in the Air. During the past week tho British airmen in France made a very large number of reconnaissances and photographic (lights, and carried out many successful raids vital to the enemy's positions. Thousands of photographs were taken, and 151 tons ot' Ijombs were dropped on important military objectives on Estnires, Merrille, Armentieres, Mericourt, and Bray, the railway stations and connections at Cambrai. Lille, and Scclin, etc. Tho enemy's resistance in the air has considerably stiffened, so that fighting of considerable intensity has taken place. Seventy-six machines wero brought down and eighteen driven down helpless. Fiftyone of our own machines aro reported missing. The British vigorously maintained their aerial offensive against the objectives on the Belgian seaboard.' Upwards of 20 tons of bombs were dropped on Zeebruggo harbour and the workshops, docks, and canals, tho Ostend and Bruges docks, and other vital joints. A i i

attack was made on the salvage works at Zcebrugge and all attacks trained excellent results. • Tho Independent Royal .Air Forcc have had a successful week, making twentyfive nids into German territory. They four times attacked the station and sidings at Thionvillo, the notorious poison gas factory at Mannheim twice, the Benz works at Mannheim, the powder factories at Rottweil and Oberndorf, the Wast furnaces at Hagondauge, Burbaca, and Wndgassen, an aerodrome at Boulay, ilie railway station at Heidelberg, and many other places, dropping a considerable weight of bombs at; each of these points. A largo fire broke out at Thionvillo station, followed J>y many heavy explosions. The IJenz works and tho Imdische chemical factory at Mannheim also broke out in Hamcs, and during the enmo raid the Gebruder Guilini munition factory was hit, and dense clouds oi.jsmoko burst up. Moreover, the Royal -'-lr f'orce contingents, in combination with the Navy, carried out, most successful raids on tho enemy's Zeppelin sheds at Tondcrn, in Schieswig. where a large double shed was completely destroyed, and another seriously damaged. Four British machines failed to return, but threo of them landed in Danish territory.

Much useful work was done in Italy, where decisive air fighting took place. .Nineteen enemy machines were brought tiown, with no single British loss. In tho Balkans, with one British machine reported' missing, the British brought down four enemy 'planes and winged another two. Bombing squadrons attacked the enemy's organisations and dumps at Vestnik, Porna, Subashkein, and Nonri Farm. Ibe Hoyal Air Force and Australian Hying Corps were , active on tho Palestine lront, deslroying six enemy machines, with two British 'planes reported missing. Ca.ttaro was strongly attacked by a British squadron, all of which returned safe, having successfully dropped threequarters of a ton of bombs.The Food Outlook. Food controllers of England) France, America, and Italy met in London, and reached an important decision. They propose to set up a permanent Inter-Al-lied Food Council to- secure close and systematic co-operation in providing for tlie needs of the Allied countries, and using tho food reserves of all the Allies as a .common stock. Mr. Hoover (America) "laid stress on tho importance of production, lie stated that tho submarine danger no longer threatens the daily supply of ioocl, but every effort was necessary by economy and increased production to save tonnage for war nccessi-: ties. Lord' Clinton stated that tho meal crop in Great Britain showed an increase of some four million quarters beyond the average. Thero was an increase of 25 per cent, in tho area of land devoted to potatoes, hut it was too early •m the season to estimate tho total yield, and in spite of all difficulties the whole cereal crop will bo upon tho average. Tho numbers of cattle, sheep, and pigs have slightly decreased, but tho situation generally is satisfactory.