THE WAR REVIEWED.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1917, Page 3

THE WAR REVIEWED.

PROSPECTS FOR 1918. (United Service Telegrams). (Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 30th. A strong fighting note marks Hie reviews of the war and prospects for 1918. Colonel Repington says, we must admit, owing to grave political and military misfortunes that we are liable to he hard beset in the west. It is also nearly certain, in the ca'se of desperate decisions, that the German naval arm will not remain unused. Discussing the prospects Colonel Repington states twenty-one German divisions have now been moved westward from Russia, but twelve tired divisions have gone to the Russian front from France..

The last thing the German Government desires to allow is the anaic.hic disrepute Bolshevik notion to percolate Germany, consequently the eastern front of 1200 miles must he closely guarded. He estimates that between 30 and 40 German divisions will be released for the west, where Germany urgently requires a: decision owing to tho large American force and the working of inter iiiil conditions.

Colonel Repington admits the maintenance of tlie German strength throughout 1918 is assured, assuming operations similar to 1917; thus it will be 1919 before attrition operates. The reduction of the Italian front by one hundred miles make Austria’s fortyfour divisions there ample for the defence. Therefore it. is expectable that ten Austro-Hungarian divisions will appear in France, probably in Alsace. '\ ogelher the Austro-German reinforcements will equalise the lighting strength in the west hut they do not provide the superiority needed tor decisive offensive. Germany is likely, to endeavour to apply her favourable form of an enveloping attack, remaining faithful to her old dislike of a parallel battle, hut the method is applicable to few sectors in the west. The Allies have won the best positions in the west and their airmen’s initiative, great artillery and machine gun strength will render attacks costlier than even Verdun. The enemy may shear away our always too narrow margin of numerical superiority, throwing us on the defensive, but he hasn’t that crushing superiority in men ami guns which tho war has shown to be necessary against entrenched. confident troops.