Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 21st, 1917. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 21st, 1917. THE WEEK.

The war news received of Into all uuua to indicate that, is a period ot big events about to happen. Much fighting of a seorsaw nature is taking place on the West front between tho French and tho Germans. The whole of the French front from St. Quentin to ffjorraino seems to b® more or less active. Along the Aisne and in tho western Champagne, east of Itkeims, 1 many exchanges are taking place, and both sides claim victories. Certainly ■the Germane are not leaving all the attacking to the French, either inthe western or the eastern parts of the Champagne. From the struggle that the Gormans are making, it is evident that they anticipate a dangerous offensive by the Fmnch line facing northwards towards Belgium. Th® Germans are fighting the French vigorously in order to save Alsace-Lorraine. Their strategy is to weaken France so that the incentive which is firing the French ardour may be weakened and damp-ed-by great losses. The Germans aic labouring under the delusion that if ( f

Fr«no» began** too wefek to reach the Rhine, and recover Alsace and Lorraine the (British and Americans will not wear themselves out in order to give Franca her just reward for what she has suffered and done for the world.

This attempt by the Germans to bleed France must soon be stopped and now thatr the 'British troops and lines have been inspected by the King, whoso visit has been an inspiration as the persoal embodiment of the might and will of the great British Empire Sir Dougins Haig will soon be testing that might on a part of the enemy front- It is said that he is waiting till the British are certain of their suprem acy in the air. What ho has been waiting for in all probabiltiy is the construction of roads, railways, and light lines to convenient points from which munitions can be rapidly ana effectively delivered to the firing lines. It is about time that the lines, roads, and bridges between Arras and' bt. Quentin were in order. Where the. German lines have not been withdrawn, the British guns are continually active —that is, between Lens and Armentieres and round Ypres to the north as far as Lombartzvde.

A German message says that the British artillery is particularly active on the Lys, which flows past Wameton, at Bassee, and astride the Scarpe east of Arras. At none of those places has the German line been out of range of the old gun positions that haro been hold and used for nearly two years. In Flanders much aerial work is being done by the British, in spito of the numerous losses which the air service is suffering, and these operations may bo taken as a sign that the British h. c going to drive into Flanders. Possibly they are, but an. offensive in that direction would u°t greatly help the French. Still, there are good reasons why the British should attempt to wrest West Flanders from the Germans- These reasons are not so much strategical as defensive for Great, Britain. It is to ho hoped that tne directive force in that region is not political. An advance by way of Douai and Cambrni is the host way to clear Flanders.

Theke is a paragraph in one of -Colonel Repington’s articles in “The Times’’ that may be commended to the attention of Die Ivew Zealand public just now, and especially to those people who have only a vague idea of the actual military position- “Neither we nor Franco can afford the heavy losses of a great and general offensive for the to oaten t,” lie declared. “We could conduct such an offensive certainly, but if battalions fail, as they may, to half their strength, and if losses are not made good, then we must remember that moral falls proportionately with losses as a general rule, and that in. view of the British and American reserve power which can arrive in Franco we should be very foolish to exhaust in advance armies which are, in tlie case at all events of France, her last.” Colonel Repingtcm went <'» to emphasise France’s urgent need of. help, going so far as t« urge that America should send 200,000 recruits to Europe forthwith, to be trained in France and incorporated in the French armies. “Franee,” he declared, “needs this support now in order to keep the French ranks full.” “It is very important,” he said again, “that America should understand that France needs help ‘as quickly as possible.” In view of that vei*y frank and emphatic statement New Zealanders who think that the Dominion has done enough in the way of sending men may be disposea to revise their opinions.

Colonel Reiunoton concludes his article on a note that ought to find an echo in all the British dominions. He. comments on the complete understanding reached between the French and British General Staffs as to the future conduct of tlie war, and adds that ft similar agreement is recorded on the naval side by the British, French and American naval representatives at the conference in Paris. “But,” lie adds, “tho road that leads to victory is si*.. tong and stony, and, in its last terms, tho result of the war depends upon the resolution of belligerent people. With greater sacrifices and greater exhaustion than our people’s, Franco and Germany are still unwavering in their resolution. Will the British democracies allow history to say that they failod, ah tho eleventh hour,, in courage and in constancy? All depends upon tho answer, but it is certain that they have victory within their grasp, if they remain hard as steel, and maintain a resolution equal to that of the enemy.

The latts't Russian news suggests their brilliant offensive on tho Lomnica lias been checked for the time, the arrival of Austrian and German reinforcements haring enabled u>c broken Austrian divisions to rldly It is admitted that the Russians have evacuated K&lusz and have withdrawn to .the east bank of the river. Tho position lis readily explained. Kalusz is on tho western slope of the Lomnitsa Valley and the Russians after crossing the river had to storm positions from which the enemy, holding the superior over, the river valley is probably flooded and movements of the troops and ground had direct observation. Moreartillery and transport on tho low ground would be impeded, while there would ho a danger of interruption of supplies through tho carrying away of the temporary bridge.

In connection with the attack made by U. Boats on the American transports conveying the first contingent t/ 1 France a member of the crew of one of the warships gives tho following account of the affair. “On our ship—a big warship—the helm jammed when we wor® firing every available gun,” ho said. “Wo swung in a wide circle from tho'line, and a smaller ship took our place. I be- • liovo one of her shells landed directly above the submersible. Th® latter show, ed only a periscope. Tho U-boat fired either three or four torpedes towards the fleet of transports. By the mercy of God nlon o all missed. Ono passed near our stern. If the helm had not providentially been jammed it might have got us. The holm jamming caused onr ship to drive directly towards the “U”-boat. The submersible disappeared possibly hit, or possibly fled, fearing it would be rammed. A young Yankee calmly timed th® battle, which lasted about a minute and a half. A second attack was made next morning. Every soul has been thrilled by the pews of the

night encounter. Th« decks of the worships nad transports were crowded, tho weather being fine and the sea calm, when at 10.30 a.m., a wild yell from the leading transport announced a line of bubbles. The. periscope was invisible. Again fortune favoured us. The Üboat being directly ahead, the commander ordered the gunners to fire, where ho judged the submersible to be hidden. A column of smoke and foam shot 100 foot upwards. Soldiers on the nearest transport clearly distinguished pieces of wod and steel, also dark bluo fragments, which a moment previous had been living Germans. It was impossible there was any mistake. All the transports steamed through floating oil and wreckage.”