TIME ARRIVED FOR OUR GREATEST STROKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 5

TIME ARRIVED FOR OUR GREATEST STROKE

(Rec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) i _ , , Washington, August 10. i General March (United States Chief of Staff) says:-"The time has now arriv- : ed on the West front for the Allies greatest blow. General Foch intends to ' keep on hitting. Any suggestion that the oud of the war is near would he unfounded, but the time lias come to keep the enemy running. The passage of tho i initiative to the Allies at this stage is all-important."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i SITUATION " NEVER BETTER THAN IT IS NOW " | MR, LLOYD GEOIIGE AT THE WATCH-TOWER. ' | (Rec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) i iT ~..,., London, August 9. |^ Mr. Lloyd George, replying to the presentation of the Freedom of tho City if '' of Neath, said:—"Do not imagine that it is all over. Wo may have dark davtr* I occasionally. Nevertheless, if we stand together, I, who stand at the watch- , towor, tell you we are going to win. The situation on the West front was never , ' better for us than it is now."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable- Assn. i STILL A LONG WAY TO GO j (Rec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) ; „,,„.,- London, August 9. : Colonel Eepington says-.—"The attack has apparently struck at tho point of junction between Prince Rupprecht's and the Crown Prince's army groups. i Jhero may be some delay in bringing up the German reserves, becauso it is al- '■ ways nioro difficult for them to reach the wings, but it would be premature to. -i suppose that we have finished the battle. Sir Douglas Haig has smashed eight German divisions, but there must be nearly a hundred at Germany's disposal, - : excluding seventy-four engaged at the Marno and those between A v erdun and - Switzerland. Twenty-three of theso divisions consist of good storm troops, who have not recontly been engaged."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. \ FOCH CAN NOW DEAL OTHER RAPID BLOWS PROSPECTS OF GERMAN RETALIATION DIMINISHING.' ! (Rec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) j ~-, ... t, . • , London, August 10. ! What tho. Pans papers enthusiastically style "the British revenge 5 is pro- ' grossing in a fashion unprecedented in any British oft'ei.sive hitherto. The advance is slower north of the Somme than elsewhere, as a success of ravines there > ■ favours defensive tactics, but tho troops are back on the old lines south of the ' bomine. Generally speaking, the salient has been broadened both at tho apex and the base by yesterday's successes. There are now >io seriously-exposed flanks ' ' the Germans, as at the Marne, aro Being driven into a great'pocket south of ! tho Somme, with their backs to the river, and will need most desperate efforts to - ! maintain themselves there, whilo a retirement will imperil the flank of tho neff j 'positions to which they havo been driven from the Marne. Tho crucial point is Chaulnes, which is near an important road and railway centre, and whero tho 1 British advance has attained its greatest depth. Its capture is bound to precipi- : late a German withdrawal from the Hontdidier ealient. Somo experts think it ' possible that the Germans may attemot to escape from their difficulties by an- i other dnvo to the Channel ports, but on tho contrary it is pointed out, General lochs present thrust precisely anticipated 6uch a move by necessitatiu» further : inroads on Prince Eupprecht's reserves, and as is expected, Fjch can now deal ! other rapid blows. Tho prospects of any effective German retaliation is regard- i ed as diminishing. This is practically admitted by tho German newspaper*. ! which aro now talking of a now defensive strategy designed to spare men."—Ken- ' ter. i GENERAL MAURICE'S VIEW . i ! (Rec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) ] ~ ' London, August 9. : General Maurice says:-"I don't think there has beon any battle in tho I west since trench warfare began in which wo or our Allies, or the Germans, eror . i before penetrated to a depth of seven miles in the first advance. It seems im- ! probable that the enemy will be able to maintain himsolf in tho Roye-Montdidicr : salient. Certainly he must make a withdrawal compared with the Marno if tvo capture Chaulnes railway junction. The best tho Germans can hopo is that i their reserves'will arrivo in time to prevent 6uch a disaster."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. | TWO COURSES OPEN TO THE GERMANS PITCHED BATTLE USING RESERVES, OR BIG RETREAT. (Rdc. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) New York, August 10. The "New York Times" 'Washington correspondent states that tho opinion of military officials is that the startling rapidity of tho Franco-British advance in Picardy, following upon tho other Allied successes, will forco tho German High Command" either to use up his reserves in a pitched battle, attempting to Mock tho Allies, or retreat to hold the lines occupied last March. The British have captured Hosieres and Warvillers. Progress on both sides of Montdidier continues. Eleven German divisions have been smashed in the present battte, French patrols have entered Chaulnes.—Aus.-A'.Z. Cable Assn. THE SCAPEGOATS FOR THE MARNE DEFEAT „ , „, . Berne, August 9. General von Planitz, two major-generals, and sixteen high officers havo been retired as a punishment for the Marno defeat.—Aus.-N,Z. Cable Assn. SLAV-AMERICAN LEGION FOR THE WESTERN FRONT m , „. e ' Washington, August 9. Tho War Department announces the completion of plans for tho organisatloi of a Slavic Legion for the battlefront. It will bo composed of Czecho-Slavs, Jugoslavs, Buthenians, and other Slavs living in America.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As=n.