Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, 1917. CRUMPLING THE GERMAN LINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, 1917. CRUMPLING THE GERMAN LINE.

f.uu’s latest stroke iu the West has fftMi well-timed and effectively per-, "lined. Surprise is often the mam iiT.iont contributing to success in war md this unexpected condition of ' .flairs prevailed evidently on the St. Queiitiu-Scarpo line. That section would have a length nf upwards of forty miles, so substantial an extension of tlie. attack indicating i n itseli the real value of the crumpling efforts on the Uindenburg line. *For some months past Haig has been hammering with undiminished persistency on the Mood-red sector far to the northward, where ho lias been nibbling and nibbling, and gaining a vastly improved situation for the winter campaign. The history of the war in the locality referred to, was proof that the enemy ■ ould not prevent tho British pushing through the fixed objectives once the plans were made. Of lato General Haig’s fixed objectives have been of a limited nature—sufficient to worry the enemy. They were of even greater value, for the enemy was lured into the belief that, here was to'* he the grand attack, and the German forces prepared to meet it accordingly. They massed their troops in greater numbers, and indulged themselves in an attempted counter-offensive. Since the debacle on the Italian Front it appeared as though Haig was marking time, because of the depletion of reserve forces and material required to save Italy. The enemy tried to improve

■ lint for the moment looked like the shining hour. But they reckoned without that element of surprise which they themselves have found so disconcerting to their opponents at. times. Evidently Haig was arranging for the renewal of what is virtually the Somme offensive of a year ago, and ho has brougbt/off the masterstroke with conspicuous success. The nows is the best for the whole year in the light of the oft-repeated statement that it- is in the Western Theatre where the decision of the war is to come. The Somme fighting of Inst season was a very material success, and has not been eclipsed by the Ypres fighting in land' values won, more violent and bloodier though the latter has been. Tn the present instance a stroke has been delivered with masterly skill, and the gains achieved fully justify the risks taken. At the time of writing the full effect of the victory has not been disclosed, but enough appears on the surface to indicate its conspicuous value. The breaking up of the Hindenhurg line ever n long stretch of ter. ritorv, and the rapid advance of the British forces driving the enemy back to what- is described ns tlieir last line of defence, assures n moral and material success of great moment at this important. juncture. The news that, there are thousands of prisoners taken i. furtheir confirmation to tho.value of the master stroke, which gives renewed assurance of the British superiority in their own particular theatre of operations. It is to be hoped the weather conditions will permit the British army

to reap, the full value of tho destructive success lie has given again won’ so conspicuously.