Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY. MAY 12 1917 THE WEEK

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY. MAY 12 1917 THE WEEK

Fresnoy, a battered little village on the northern end of the Hindenbnrg line, near Oppy, has been very much in peoples’ minds this week. It was the scene of the first British check of note since the big Somme offensive began last year, and the offensive which has been carried on through the super-titanic straggle wbioh opened in February of this year. The check is not of material value as affecting the British operations, as a beadquarters message sent by Reuter through Washington, was careful to announce on Thursday. It is a matter of ebb and flow, and just for once in a while the enemy soored a passing success. It is clear that it must be a costly victory for the enemy, who were at once subjected to a rain of artillery fire which would make Fresnoy an inferno. The annihilation of the German army is the real bceiness of the war, and Frasnoy will assist to that end, and so play a not important part in tbe war. Fresnoy, as a German victory, is one of the fruits of the disruption following the revolution in Russia. The disquiet there, and tbe dislocation of tbe fighting in the eastern theatre, has enabled the Germans to move masses of good troops to the west. These it seems to be believed, were intended to be need primarily for an enemy offensive which was purposed to anticipate the British advance. This effect was not realised because the British anticipating tbe movement, took the offensive, and profitted by tbe timely action, winning their way to and piercing the notable Hiadenbnrg line which was believed to be a snre ‘defence for the enemy. The British attack being developed mast have hastened the fruition of the German plans, and the recent closing of frontiers was to enable all available transport to be csed to bring over the armies from tbe eastern fronts. The

bulk of these great reinforcement! were masted in front of the British and at Fresnoy great crowds of th< enemy advanced in each numbers tha’ even the guns could not account fo: the oncomers, and so by weight o men the Germans turned the Britial out of the captured post. Tactics o a similar character appear to hav been attempted at other points, not ably Bullecourt, where most aangnin ary fighting baa taken place. Her the British were more securely in stalled, and no donbt had a more ef feotive artillery service. All Britisi gains elsewhere than Fresnoy havi been held superbly and in otbe quarters, also, slight advances hay been made. It seems clear that fo the moment, reinforced as they ate the initiative is largely with tin enemy. This will rather euit th British under the circumstances, fo in this war of annihilation more o the enemy can be accounted for, that in the pre-arranged retreats whic! the Germans have resorted to whei hard pressed. Further down the lim the French have been able to main tain their gallant attack and to con tmne fighting with a dash and brilliancy it would be bard to match. Thi western front has been a busy tbeatn this week, and it has been playing it part towards that deoisive end whic! it is predicted is to come from thi great offensive in that quarter of thif far-flung war. Although the submarine menace i still a serious aspect of tbe war to th Allies, we are counselled on all side to be of good cheer, and there is n doubt everything possible is bsini done to control it. It is a very one Bided story at present, but last week’ toll, although heavy, is beitßr reading Still the loss by submarining is end mons, and it mast be .having a ver dislocating effect on the war aßrvioe of the Allies, Tbe quiet confidence c our leaders is something to be proa of in this time of peril. The positioi is being gripped with a'l possibl firmness, and through it all we hav the splendid courage of tbe mercantil marine who go np and down the sea at their country’s call, irrespective o what fate has in store for them. Witl the entry of the United States inti the war, Britain will have valcabh maritime help for transport purpose! in particular, while in regard to deal mg with the submarine nunxce thi inventive genius of a ! l America in witl us, so that a substantial tneisure o success is sure to be ar hind. Then are encouraging reports being seat on already, and with Mr Edison’s famili arity with the possibilities of appliec electricity, some great discover] should soon counteract, if not altogether settle the present great evil oi destruction. The loss of abippiog will have a reflective effect on New Zealand,rendering tonnage scarce, freights higher, and so piling up the cost oi eommodities. Iu this oirpnmstanoe restrictive measures with repaid tc both imports and experts of a nonessential character should now be taking effect. The question of essential worker! raised at the Advisory Coromitrea t( tbe Efficiency Board this west is oi importance. The country cannot consider too soon its duty in re spent to retaining essential workira it the Dominion. The plight of the United Kingdom in regard to thii matter should be borne in mind, foi when it bbcatce necessary to organiei in Britain, it was found that thousand! of expert workers were at the front when they could be of infinitely mort service in helping to win the war ee captains of their industries at Home In this circumstance there was nothing for it but to take these indiapensibles out of tha trenches and back to th; hives of industry in England and elsewhere. New Zealand, providing the ships are procurable for the transport can play an important part in supple menting the food supplies of tbe Allies, The local case discussed here was af footing the cheese industry, the commodity which is such a staple artich of food for the soldiers as well as tht workers. The Efficiency Board is aiming at doing something just, now to increase the cheese output, and ic this circumstance it is not wise tc allow dairymen connected With the production of cheese to have their farms or disperse the>r heids. The supply of cheese depends on the milk supply, aod this product should be kept up at the highest. The workers in this industry thus rank aa most assential, and a well trained dairymen should be kept at his post in preference fco sending him off to camp to give him some months of training before he can be a useful soldier. It is misapplied, if not wasted effort ; certainly ill-directed when food commodities are jo necessary to win itr> war. Congratulations to she Presbyterian 30inmunity ou the ceiebratioa of the jubilee of tb.eir local Churob. This is a period pf jubilees just now, for tbe West Coast, with the decades which have slipped by, is now able to write history. The country is creating its traditions, and it is well to mark the milestones in history as they drift by. The Presbyterian community of this town and district has always been an influential part of tbe population. Many of the leading citizana who helped to found Hokitika and assisted at the opening of the surrounding townships were of this persuasion—all men of solid worth and character, Iu education matters, particularly, this district owes a great deal to the folk: of the Church who ire able to look back now on fifty years of useful activity. Prior to the State system of edneatiou public in-

struction rested mainly with the denominations or private enterprise. The old school in Sewell Street, conducted by the hie Mr Scott, will be known to many, and it is interesting to cbroniole that much of the material from that building now constitutes the gymnasium at the Stare School. When the State took over matters educational, Scots’s school became the first State School, and it was there that the late E B Dixon began his duties as tbe first bead master of tbe National system. Tbe association of the Presbyterian community with education in these days has lived down to ti e f rose: t, and they generally prsdaminatd in the management of our public schools. They have a good record for all these years, and their earcßßtcess is no denbt the secret of their prospering activities over the jubilee span.