Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star SATURDAY AUGUST 25th. 1917. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star SATURDAY AUGUST 25th. 1917. THE WEEK.

jpaERE has been bitter and sustained fighting all the week on the western front. The initiative continues with slow but sure methods . The YpresLens front is just now the scene of main activity for tho British. An important advantage was gained by tho taking at Langemarck and now conios news that Roulers beyond, is in jeopardy. Round about .Lens/one of the pivots of tho war, most sanguinary fighting has been going on. Hero tho Canadians have had tho brunt of tho severo counter-attacks made by the enemy, who are loath indeed vo give up one of tho historical points of tills three years’ war. The fighting as at close quarters, and is intense, showing the value put upon this principal objective. The fall of Lena would be an event of the war of great im- . portance, especially to the enemy, m I the present serious decisive crisis. If in conjunction with! tho taking of Lens the British could 1 also gain Roulers, it would bo clour even lo the enemy how decisively tne war is going against them in the arena where events count. The advantage of the occupation of Roulers would indicate tho danger to tho enemy oeupation of Os tend, and otHer , jumping off stations for submarines on ' tho Belgian Coast, while the taking of Lens would mark the beginning of the end of the enemy occupation of the | northern territory of France. The

ateripl ’activity continues to ,b.o a feature oJf tb,® success attending the British l,and fighting, showing how tins great adjunctary service hajj grown since Blatalin developed its military side ao-rapidly.

The French are fighting on with glorious success. The battle area round about Verdun they have made distinctly their own, and at every attempt they are adding .to their laurels in a quarter which forever will be sacred ground to the Fronch nation. Veruuv will remain ns the one spot where, next to the banks of tho Marne, the hopim of the enemy to reach Paris were for ever lost. For some little time tho French have been operating about Verdun in the preliminary for tu* offensive now in progress. At the beginning of tho wook the Gorman news gave it out that tho French were concentrating largo reserves of men and guns at Verdun, so that the new attack was not unexpected by the enemy. Tho scope of the new development is not known, but it lias possibilities, and might easily affect tho whole progress of events in tho Champagne where fighting has long been strenuous. It is not improbable that the French operations may bo part of a concerted plan with General Haig, who if he reaps the advantage promising in the Ypres Leris fighting, would specially welcome a diversion in the Champagne, as affording a hotter opportunity of consolidating his gains. How far tlie two offensives are conjoined as part of a general strategical stroke, time will tell but there are very promisng possibilities oven at tills distance, and when we reinomber that tho summer months are fleeting in tho northern hemisphe, f it is more improbable still that something of a very material character is doing just now along the western frontier.

The renewal of the giant offensive along the Italian front is also of opportune interest, as part of the stroke which is conceivable. The Italians have to fight over very difficult country and the warfare takes so much organisation that it can ho carried out only in stages The country being of such a difficult nature to fight over, favours the enemy holding the defensive points, and this advantage makes the Italian success the more creditable, and is likewise an indication of the trend of events in that theatre of operations. It would appear that Trieste is likely to pass from the enemy’s keeping. If this should transpire in conjunction with the possible successes on; the Wcsternfront, the summer fighting promis>s to end most doisively for the Allies.

In tho eastern Theatre the Russian situation is still complex, though there are signs of some iriiprovement in the internal position. M. Kerensky’s rulo aeeins to ho growing stronger every day, the absence of counter-revolution-ary agitations by extremists having «. visible testimony of a desire in Russia lo have a strong and sottled form of Government. There are also fewor reteren'oes in the reports to the uncertain attitude of certain army units on the Galician front. General Komiloff has all tho Cossacks loyally supporting him ILo is himself a Cossack if poor origin, and he has worked himself up to his present position by his great natural ability. IF was in Manchuria mat ho proved himself a leader of great ability when figliting rearguard actions behind General Ivuropatkin's retroating armies. ;It was his ability as a linguist and matheinaticdan that fLTst brought him into notice in tho military colleges of Russia. He is also well-known as an author on military subjects and on Russian affairs in Asia. H e is also well-kpown as an author on military subjects and on Russian affairs in - Asia, The opinion of such a man must therefore carry weight in the eyes of M. Kerensky and his supporter-, and when he says that energetic measures had. considerably strengthened tho morale and fighting capacity of the army his statement may be taken as an indication of What he has managed to accomplish; ahd as an earnest of what the Russians will yet do in the way of turning the tables upon the Germans.

It is remarkable the number of stories that have beon abroad this week in re gard to conditions in Syunoy. On Tuesday night very alarming •" .statements were made by reputable citi-

nens indicating a condition of affairs which oil tho Very face of it, was most improbable. Still, the public. are gullible, and a largo amount of I credence was given to tho stories the substance of which would do credit to tho fertile imagination of the novelist. Tho news received on Thursday that conditions were normal at once settled all doubt on the matter, . and some may expect that the strike is proceeding on orderly lines. Personal reports from the seat of the trouble indicate that the-Government are, well prepared for nil eventualities, and no ■ doubt thi s preparation gave play to the. imagination which Dame Rumour operated upon with the fresh license. The- conflict in Australia appears to have developed into a trial of endurnueo between tho Government of the State at least if not the Government of the whole of Australia on the ono hand and the opponents of constituted authority, with whom are associated the; enemies of the Empire on the. other hand. To such a struggle thero can only be one end if the control of the affairs of tho country is not to be : lmndcd over to a junta headed by men j who recognise no duty to the State j and in many cases are more or less actively disloyal- to the Empire. Tho industrial upheaval which is now lining experienced is an attack uopn tho entire system of democratic government. If it were successful the effect would he the establishment of a System of class government that would he subversive of the principles of de- ; mocrocy—a system as a contemporary put it, conceived ini malice, founded on force, and maintained by tyranny. It is impossible, however, that it can sue- ' oeed. „ . f The mos-t important matter for con- ( /deration in New Zealand this and noyct \ week is. the Liberty War Loan. Tho l publicity campaign suggested by the Government is not receiving as much t attention as it might. The local public v meeting was some small contribution to- C wards the campaign hut there has not a been the organisation of effort that r the Minister of Finance has asked C for. The Press of the Dominion. is cer- -

t&isly doing ita part tv-ell; and the response to the invitation from Sir Joseph Ward has been whole-hearted. It is well that it should be so, because the need for the monoy to prosecute the war to a successful conclusion, is beyond all question. The news just now is of an inspiring character. In the west—the real deciding ground—the real deciding ground—the Allies are still pushing forward, invariably taking the initiative and always holding their own. Such sacrifice demands the fullest recognition, and that can beet be supplied by continuing to supply the sinews of war to maintain the present effort at it s advantage. Within New Zealand the people have enjoyed a period of unexampled prosperity. Never were our products in greater demand, or prices so abnormal. The wealth would be exhausted enormously, of course, if more shipping were available. but the fact that ‘so much is available and that the freedom of the neas is still with the Allies is due to the successful prosecution of the war. This is all the more reason why the groat effort to prosecute the war to a successful close should he persisted in. To do this, money is an essential factor, and it is for this end that the Government now asks for twelve millions to help to see the war through.