Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 27th, 1918 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 27th, 1918 THE WEEK.

Titere if* no question about tlio Americans materialising in Franco. Despite the late entry of the I'nited States into the war, and the fact that the first year showed a lack of apparently material results,* America was so laying the foundations for her giant effort that once it was launched the achievements have surprised probably the Americans themselves. Tho enemy, and particularly the. Germans, have had a surprise and real disillusionment. Tho German Government, said, if they did not holievo that America would never enter the fighting. In the same way they did not believe Britain would achieve the results she did once she wus set about equipping her great army. The possible military strength of Britain, the Kaiser looked upon with contempt and so openly expressed himself. Tie and his nation have been long disillusioned about. Britain's military strength and her tenacity, and the same process of enlightenment is nmv going on in regard to America. The Americans are, making off to war in an unending stream. What President Wilson said at the outset is being performed in deeds—the United States will spend her whole strength in fighting for the free, fiom of the world. The first few thou-

c.nl c.con grs-TV "to

hiiiirecta of thou

r.»r.d'. and new the torce is gtci a-mil-lion strong. While the end of the war is not in sight there will be no limit to tlie force America will pul across the Atlantic. The millions will soon mount up, and herein lies the most certain knowledge of the victory to come in duo course.

What the Fnilod States i* doing is one of the miracles of the war. There have been many remarkabko achievements, hut nothing to compare with the effort America is making. The whole strength of the United States navy was quickly thrown into the war when America resolved to fight, and the naval force is being added to rapidly • the mighty ship-building effort providing more and more ships of all classes as the weeks go by. American troops arc crossing the Atlantic by the hundred thousand. General Pershing only • mentioned “over 100,000’’ as the number of fully trained and equipped American troops ready for immediate use in the battle in Picardy after the German advance in March last. Others were holding different sectors of the line, however, and many have completed their training since •hen. The way

in which America has faced the task ahead of her is shown by the fact | that the total war strength of her army has risen from 9524 officers and 202,010 men in April, 1917, to 12.1,801 officers and 1,528,921 men in April, 1918. Although the American troops in France took but a small part in the fighting prior to the commencement of the German offensive, they carried out a. vast amount of work behind the lines preparing for the jgreat. army which was to follow. Referring to those preliminary labours' the “Current History” magazine said :—“Docks .had to be constructed, railways built and cantonments, hospitals and a base constructed. American engineers went into the French forests, and there did the work of the pioneers of the American northwest, cutting down trees to build the permanent camps which were to replace life temporary cities. They. built a railway 000 miles long from the points of disembarkation to the operating base. 'File rolling stock it carried was all shipped across from the United jStatjes.” Now the American troops are bearing their share of the real fighting, and making good at every opportunity. They come into the fight confident of the final victory, and resolute to hasten the end. This is the real guarantee that the tide of the war has turned, and the end with a triumphant pence is assured to all the world.

The smashing of the German offensive by General Focli’s strategy is one of the most dramatic events of the war Judged by the published accounts the Franco-American efTort was attemlei by very promising results from the outset. Subsequent developments confirmed the initial success which has been added to further hv the presence of the British forces in this valuable effort ;to turn the tables on the enemy. ■Ever since Afiarcli last .the, German forces held the advantage, t pressing in hit by bit against a. stubborn defensive. It was clear all along that Gee erul Foeli was conserving his forces for a blow which would be of deciding advantage. In the face, of trying times he hold his men in reserve, and showed his consummate skill in knowing when and how to attack to the host advantage. The stroke he has delivered has converted the German offensive, into a defensive. In forcing the enemy to retire Foeli’s material advantage is manifested, for the whole genius of the enemy is being utilised now to save the situation. The advantage the enemy gained in the March-,Tuly offensive was mainly by sheer weight of numbers. Foch’s triumph is due to utilising his forces with strategical effect-, enemy created a projecting salient in their rush for Paris, and the Marne region has again proved the scene o' their undoing. In their haste, n> thanks to the brilliant defence <■ Rhoims the loft flank was neutralised. That of the right came directly under the domination of the Franco-Amori-can forces and so “the pincers” were created. The nipping process is now going on, and very uncomfortable it. is for the enemy .

Tire full effect of General Koch’s stroke is not yet manifest. But in addition to breaking tho German offensive along the route to Paris, it is clear also that the second offensive for the Channel pints is likewise postponed. Since tho heavy attacks in April last, when the I'Vanco-British forces held up Bernhardi’s sacrificing effort, a comparative lull has followed in the northern region. hut it was known that the enemy had well prepared to launch a further and greater effort to reach the great goal of German military ambitions —the Channel coast. The. pause prior to the latest offensive in the Marne sector has never been adequately explained. < It was known that the time so gained was all to the. advantage of the. Allies, who were reorganising and being replenished day by day with new forces from America. Still the enemy waited. When they renewed the attack .they found them selves hold tip practically from the onset, and then came the unexpected countering blow. Foeh opened an offensive on the German right flank with initial success right away. The position has continued to improve in the Marne fighting all the time, and latest accounts show..- that the enemy is being sorely pressed. The talk of a northern German oflensivc has died down, and instead reserves otc being moved south to help save the situation at the* point of greatest pressure. It is too much to hope that the present is Foch’s final stroke. That will come later. But the present has proved a master stroke to make good the general situation, and to prepare tho way for the final blow which is certain to come now in good season.

The news this week that the heading in the Otira Tunnel had been pierced with a small bore, is a very gratifying piece of intelligence. It- is something over ten years since Sir Joseph Ward fired “the first shot’’ in the Otira tunnel contract, and although the work is still a long way from accomplishment so far as regular traffic is concerned, the stage now reached is a guarantee that the work already done lias been performed well, and that the need for completion becomes more and more urgent, with the mountain range actually penetrated. The work is one of great importance to the country. It presented an engineering task' of considerable magnitude, and the reaching of the present stage lias involved a great labor expenditure, often carried forward tinder real difficulties. The work is still a finishing oft - of the tunnel itself a large long way from completion. In th© amount of labour will be involved, but

Ti 1.11 tTTipi«.»»v: *1 d r i*,iu and ' cntdr.- ’ iion, this v.ock may proceed more expeditiously. A matter of great importanco as affecting the final service through the tunnel, is the power scheme to he adopted. This appears to bo still, in the report stage, for a final decision has not been given out. Lately some investigation has been proceeding ns to the possibility of deriving : power from either the river Otehnka or Lake Kaurapataka. Those sources of plow or are up the Teremakau river beyond the. confluence of the Otirn river, so that they aro fairly close to the, required spot'. The certainty of an adequate water supply all the year round arid the avoidance of interruptions over a long transmission line, are factors to bo considered, especially,.just now when wo are passing through a rigorous winter.

Ttn: development oi' hydro-electric pow • or for working the tunnel would under favourable conditions bo tbo cheapest. Experience is disclosing certain serious difficulties in'the way, particularly as adequate water power is not very adjacent to the scene of operations. The schemes' in the higher country are being discounted now by the rigors of the season which will ho of course recurring factors of disadvantage, hor this reason the question of steam power to develop electric force is said to he under serious consideration, either as an auxiliary or as the major supply. Coal is plentiful on this side, of the range lor the purpose in question, and Jackson i» mentioned as n site ior the installation of the works thus avoiding the heavy.haulage ol fuel to the Otira. Jhe railway authorities have been consider ing for some time the necessity of duplicating the line between Jackson and Otira so as to deal as effectively as possible with the heavy traffic which will have to he drawn over this section when the through railway is in operation. The grade of the railway will necessitate halving the heavier trains of' goods traffic- and to facilitate transit both wavs the duplication of the lino will be essential. For this reason the Jackson site is being men tier ed as a suitable location for an electric generation plant by steam. The matter must he decided upon very soon now. The Otira tunnelworks are at that stag* when to enable a speedy completion oi the whole through service, all arrange meats for the working of same sliouli be determined upon and brought to ; head as quickly as possible.