Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 1st, 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE Ist, 1918. THE WEEK.

Auotjt the middle of last month t.hcrr was a forecast issued by General Maurice in a London paper touching the th’rid phase of tho onomy offensive which was launched this week. Writing a fortnight ago ho predicted that "when the enemy attacks lie will gain precious ground’’ and went on to say that provided we send, every man who

can be spared to Franco there is no reason why. we should not cheek the next ! blow as wc defeated the last. Tho hlo^j. lias fallen, and it is clear it is yielding far greater results that! wore- expected. There is a key to this nnfortunato situation also in General Mau rice’s earlier report referred to. He said :—“lt is n source of weakness that the British communications run parallel with the front instead of at regular intervals straight from the front to the , base, as in the German position. A 1 successful German attack on any part ofc the line threatens the communications of the whole British front. It is thus difficult to give ground voluntarily in order to establish a better front. Hindeuburg early in ]917 fell back 30 miles without uncovering vital commit--1 mentions. Wc can nowhere give a 4hird of that distance on the Amiens trout without grave inconvenience. This is what Sir Douglas Haig meant when lie said wo were fighting with our hacks

to the wall. Although the position is cramped we are in a better position to meet an attack than on March ‘2l. NVo have unified command, ana while our losses have been heavy there is the clearest evidence that the enemy's losses wclc heaviest. American troops arc steadily pouring in. There has l)oen time to readjust the positions of the Allied forces on the whole front, We may be sure General Foeh now has his reserves where he wants them. The c ream of the German specially trained men have gone.’’ The' note of optimism is not confirmed as fully as we could hope from the position as now revealed but it is understandable that the Allies are suffering from the fact, that they are handicapped for the reason that their battle front is not as well organised as that of tho enemy.

Jvar why the position is unfortunately sa, General Allan rice does -not ofTer any explanation. He states .3. fact, which is borne out by events now happening. Notwithstanding the prolonged lull before the third phase began, and the feverish preparations to prepare for the new onslaught, when it came it presented again all tho elements of a great surprise. This, too, when the attack came at a point which had been dearly won by the French, and which was regarded as a natural defensive, position whan originally taken. The reserves were not quite where they were wanted and the support offered appears to have ibecn poor. It was-Ouly where there was dogged, determined fighting oil behalf of tho Allies that any slimy was made against the enemy, whose measure of victory is. shown, not only by “the precious ground” retaken, hut nlso by the thousands of prisoners. There would he also much booty, falling into the hands to the pro-tem victors. Naturally the enemy are sending up peans of delight that their success. They will be much heartened to find themselves back within hail of the Marne region where they were four years ago. ■The success of this third phase will encourage the enemy to put forward further giant efforts to reach the objective they now have in sight—Paris For the time being, the Channel ports are not so much in evidence, the full force of the battle has swung hack to the south. The situation reveals the truth of General Maurice's proviso to “send every man who can he spared to France” to chock the great stride to cross the; Marne and jeopardise Paris.

The pressure from Chemiu des Dames is less vital immediately than it would 'he if the same degree of advance had been made on the Amiens front. There is not the room there to give grouna so freely with any comfort for the general situation. The capture of Soissons is not a comforting piece of news, that locality being in so direct a line for the Paris objective. The holding of R.heims is a very satisfactory feature in the circumstances. In the early days of September, 1914, the Germans occupied Rheims, till forced to retreat after the Marne fighting. Since then the French have held the historic town most gallantly, though its defence at the moment is largely in the keeping of the British. It would appeal that this third phase which is more local than the major stroke of March last, has given the enemy an. eighteen mile lift towards their goal. It would he futile to expect any abatement of the German ambitions to reach Paris under the circumstances and other efforts will he attempted. So far this attack is not as great, an undertaking, hut the success wliich has attended it, will give the enemy encouragement to exploit the situation more and fnorc. Tho news from Paris indicates \ that local feeling is less volatile and that the gravity of the position is realised. But the outlook though grave is not. by any means extreme. The organisation for the defence of. Paris be very thorough, and with the American help now assorting itself the tension will be lessening. Time fights on the side of the Allies and against the enemy. No doubt the material losses in guns and ammunition this week will be made good with all celerity, and the battle front will be again put in order preparatory for the next great rush.

As official announcement lias been made that the War Cabinet has decided to open negotiations immediately with Germany for the exchange of prisoners. In arriving at this conclusion the British Government is following the example of the French authorities, and has no doubt been influenced by the very natural and apparently insistent popular demand that it should take such measures for the relief of British soldiers, many of whom have beta interned in Germany since the earliest period of the war. Such a matter as the exchange of prisoners would appear to call for a common policy on the part of nil the allies, but in previous negotiations for the release of incapacitate cd or civilian prisoners the various Governments have conducted negotiations individually, and in securing ah agreement in respect of combatant prisoners the French Government, evidently acted upon its own responsibility. At the end of last year there were 46,GS9 British soldiers held in Germany and 127,102 Germans in Britain; in addition. the civilians interned number 0700 British and 21,000 Germans. Only a proportion of these are likely to he released under the agreement which it is now proposed to seek. Tho arrangement between Franco and Ger-many-provides for the exchange of civilians without conditions, but only soldiers who have boon in capitivity over 18 mouths are to be exchanged, and officer prisoners are to be interned in Switzerland. With due regard to military considerations, the British nation will desire the most liberal com*

promise that can bo made. There is, unfortunately, overwhelming evidence if the deliberate cruelty to which British prisoners in-particular liavo been subjected iri Germany. Many have succumbed to diabolical torture, others who have been permanently maimed are now being repatriated, but there are others still distributed throughout Germany beyond tho supervision of the Dutch Legation and abandoned to the systematic brutality of Gorman officers. Tho prospect of releasing men who have suffered captivity in such conditions will bo regarded with the greatest satisfaction throughout the Empire. '

Till) result of tho Grey election has been very much in peoples minds this past few days. Actually the result was very, much what the average onlooker expected. The winning party was probably the most disappointed of all, for a larger majority was expected. Candidly, of course, we do not regard the result with any favour. Mr. Holland’s anti-conscription platform does not fit in with-the needs of the Empire when its very existence is challenged by an enemy that draws its herculeau strength from its matured^ conscripted forces, The return of an advocate who would favour leaving the country to its fate now is. not creditable, we submit to tho people responsible for the result. The action is a black mark against the West Coast which hitherto has expressed its fealty to the Crown in unniistake,able loyalty. Wo know of course that all Labour does not favour Mr. Holland's views on the anti-con-scription question. The attitude of Labour in Britain, America and France, shows how that mighty force act when they realise the full issues of the war. It is unfortunate that in this country and in Australia there is an extreme section who will look nt the war situation with inverted glasses. Yet in Australia a Labour leader like Mr. Peter Bowling, (who has sent five of his sons to the war) has said: “The majority of the men at the front are. our men—our mates— and we must stick to them.” To decry military service and ■ seek to avoid it for personal grounds, is plainly to desert those who are now. standing up so gallantly against the common foe. It is because the war is the only thing that matters, that- we regret Mr. Holland's return to Parliament. -Mr. Holland is not disposed to help to win the war in a practical way, and for that reason lie can serve no useful purposes in'the House at present. We must not omit to congratulate Mr. Coates 'On the good and gentlemanly fight lie put up and the fine spirit in which lie accepted his defeat.

As regards the attitude, of Labour, in America towards the war, Mr Gompers is a very plain spokesman. He has said, “as far as I am concerned, the war has to be fought until either auto.eracy is crushed or democracy enthroned. The American Labour movement stands behind the President,” and it is well-known what course of action Mr Wilson is taking. In this great war of liberation all classes are involved, but Labour more so than any class, because from'their ranks must be drawn the greatest number of fighters. Labour predominates in numbers, and from that quarter must come the largest force to light for national freedom and liberty. Even now their representatives in the battle line are the greatest. and to seek to annul the militaryservice act, and revert to voluntarism would be to leave the men in the lurch who are serving already. Australia is making a great effort so that voluntarism will suffice for her military needs. But despite, a groat expenditure :of energy, and waste of time, the results are not adequate. Our greatest ally in the war did not wait to test its volunteerism, for America plunged into conscription without, delay, as the only fair and equitable way to equalise the sacrifice. The spirit which has reared itself in the Grey electorate has arisen surely from, a misconception of the nation’s needs. If it has grown up from any. other cause it certainly requires cheeking, and those who lead in public life should be careful to watch tlic position. and bv precept and example do all in their power to open the eyes of the people to the error of their way. Tho liberties we enjoy as a nation have been too dearly bought to be trifled with, and it is up to the men,Who lead to-day to be courageous enough to speak their minds on any and all occasions when they have the opportunity of meeting the people, and addressing them on their welfare.