Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 18th., 1917. WHAT OF THE WEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 18th., 1917. WHAT OF THE WEST.

The question hero sot out may be answered promptly; “All is well on the West.” Because of apparent inactivities in that theatre of the war or because progress is not as material and tangible as might bo hoped for, it must not bo concluded that the Allies aro in a condition of stalemate. The long protracted Battle of the Somme last year may bo regarded as the deciding factor of the war. the turning point whereat British military supremacy was established, and 1 the enemy learned tho losson definitely that thoy wore beaten. As a. matter of fact the historian has already set it down that in the Battle of the Somme it was not the recapture of territory that Britain sought, but tho weakening of tho numbers, material and moral of the enemy. One German paper said: “We realise now that England is our real enemy, and that she is prepared to do. everything in her power to conquer us. If lack of war material nnd supplies does not put a atop to the battle of tho Somme, she will not abandon her plan; on the contrary she will make use of th« winter to accumulate reserve* of ammunition.’' Another Berman newspaper said: “Thanks to her immense achiovementt in this sphere our most dangerous enemy has arrived at a position in which she is able to sot enormous weapons against us. It is the battle of the Somme above all that teaches us this.” The battle has lessons for the Allies also. While it disiclosed that victory was assured, it

made plain likewise what tho cost would be. Beaumont Hamel, Beaumont, Flers, Coureeletto, Martinpuich, wero all in themselves scenes of glorious victories, but at the end of the titanic struggle which closed with the capture by the Allies, they were but waste places, utterly destroyed. Then as the cnorny beat their hasty retreat under pressure, further destruction, quite unwarranted now, ensued. The victory and advance of tho Allies meant the certain destruction of tho regained French territory, to say nought of the great sacrifice of

life, the heaviest toll of all. From those experiences a year ago, a lesson was drawn and perhaps in this instruction we find the sequel to the mode of fighting which has marked this years conflict. Nothing so gigantic as the Somme battle has been repeated. The military tactics have been on scientific lines, as it were, as witness the. burrowing and blowing up of Messines hill. To these man-saving tactics were added the super-excellence of the ’Allies in aerial warfare and above all, in artillery practice. These two latter nowadays are the complement of each other. The airmen are the eyes of the artillerists and pursuing their adventure fearlessly they learn all that will be of interest in helping tho artillery to direct their fire with the most telling destruction. The aerial superiority of the Allies is now beyond queston, enabling all enemy positions to l)o searched and determined. Then follows the more searching, artillery fire which l a'nges over the enemy .country to its full extent. Here, again the Allies hold the major power both-in guns and ammunition, and use it with remarkable success. The enemy not so long ago along tho. Belgian coast tried to rival Allied methods, and after it great concentration of guns and munitions, attempted to beat tlio Allies at their own tactics. But though on this occasion the initiative was with the. enemy and for four days they hid unrelentingly for the supremacy, they failed totally to achieve their objective The practice appears to bo for the airmen to locate gun emplacements obtained by tho enemy. No sooner is this done than the Allied artillery concentrate in the point till the object of attention is obliterated. 'The effect on the enemy of those tactics is becoming very marked, and they realise still further what it is to be in military inferiority. Those successful long range engagements while it tries the nerves of the enemy, also account for many men moving up to support positions. They have a draining effect, and the enemy is always uncertain what is to follow these ]>)■*•- li min ary visitations. These tactics on the other hand do not necessitate heavy losses to the Allies, who are thus conserving their man-power lor the sacrifice only of explosives, which are now, happily, coming forward freely. This command of matters in the west justifies the statement with which we opened that “all is well.” The continuance of these conditions depends upon circumstances, one of which, the advent of the Americans, is shaping to a definite state. Even with the arrival of many thousands of Americans in the firing line, there is no guarantee that the advance will he swift Tlie advance can he only at a price in a heavy toll of life and the entire destruction of the countryside.' Tt is not unlikely that those directing the war have other ways and means of winning it, as we shall all probably sec in due season. The lact remains that the military superiority is fully secured, and behind that hold defence we may bo sure that matters in the west will shape themselves as tho authorities wish.