Hokitika Guardian & evening Star TUESDAY NOVEMBER, 6th, 1917. THE BURTHEN OF THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening Star TUESDAY NOVEMBER, 6th, 1917. THE BURTHEN OF THE WAR.

The Press Bureau has gone out of it s way surely to announce the mission of the Rt. Hon Lloyd George and others to,ltaly dm advance of the occasion. A vigorous censorship usually keeps the movements of tfhese high-placed gentlemen something of a- secret for the time being. The fact that publicity is given in advance is perhaps some indication of the seriousness of :-:e

plight of Italy at the present junotn (Accompanying British Premier is a galaxy of military talent, includii.t. the Chief Military Advisor of ho British Cabinet-. Those officers in high places would not relinquish tho:r important duties in I/mdon exco?: for morre important: tasks elsewhere so we see how the Italian position I rcomes srper imposed upon the Allies. The

Italian Army now taking up now positions is minus its great stores of munitions which had been assembled on the front for the winter campaign. The ' enemy thus have a big haul in supplies which will be a welcome addition to their own depleted horde. This is another fact accounting for the serious- ! ness of the position. All this gives | point to the oft expressed belief that the burden of the war rested on the Allied belligerentg in the Western Theatre of operations. The Franco J ßritish troops so manfully supported by the Belgian' forces continue to maintain their aggressive tactics and it is" in that quarter where tlic highest hopes are to be centred . The advent of the American forces into the firing line will be hailed with relief by the French troops. For over three years they have most gallantly borne the burden of the western fighting, where it has been most intense. They had held possession of a long line of battle-front, including the ever memorable Verdun line. To them in particular the reinforcements from tin* United States will be most welcome. Just now the French are snatching again victories from their opponents, and the Americans will participate in the lighting at a time when they will have the opportunity of pushing forward further the hard won advantage the French forces have secured. What helps the Allies in the west to hear their burden so valiantly is the cheerful optimism on all sides. From the very outset when the first 16,000 men stepped out to the tune of “Tipperary” to meet the M>"and kpan German Army in battle array the British soldier has been overflowing with optimism about the final result, come it sooner or later. Bishop Bury 'visited the Yser front not so long ago, and he gave his impression in a very optimistic view in an article in,the Nmo teenth century. Concluding, lie says; __<‘l have often been accused ol writing concerning my war-area experiences in a spirit of ‘incurable optimism but I am bound to say that feeling increases with men; and as I write these words, I think of what a leading Swiss offi said to me the other day: ‘All belligerent powers are absolutely tired out and war-weary except yourselves, and most of all i s this so with your chief enemy, while you British are only just beginning to feel that you are really at war.*’