A REVIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1918, Page 2

A REVIEW.

OF ENEMY MOVES. [PER PREBB ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] (Received This Day at 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 5. The United Press correspondent states the Germans are now at bay, and in full retreat to the Aisne. They have been forced to abandon positions on tha Avre, Aricre and near Givenchy. Besides the failure of the summer campaign, there is a steady disappearance of their reserves. The Germans are equalled, if not outnumbered, by eager forces weekly increased by tens of thousands of absolutely fit Americans. Hindenburg and Ludendorff are seeking to arrange the Western Front, to shorten the line here and there, and are adopting a defensive attitude behind the rivers and other natural barriers. They, have one chosen spot where to collect- all the available remnants for one last try for a decision. Meanwhile the oppressive shadow of defeat hovers over their Army. Prison- , crs admit that a spirit of hoplessness rs ' spreading.

A GERMAN LETTER. LONDON, Aug. 5. The following letter from a soldier on the Marne to a friend, newly arrived | on the British Front from Germany, • fairly represents the sentiment among • a large part of tho enemy.—“ You will i be in the thick of things now. Shirk | all you can. Wo are only fighting for i the big-wigs now. We in the Marne fighting, did not got far. Our regiment* was nearly wiped out. This war is becoming the biggest massacre there ever was. Germany is slowly crumbling to pieces.” j DESPERATE EFFORTS. | LONDON, Aug. 5. j There are indications that Germany is making desperate efforts to coerce Austria to help in France, soliciting Neutral .labour and ' assistance from ; Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey nud Russia, i with a view to freeing German work- , men for military duty. German prison- ■ crs frankly say they do not believe it | is possible for Germany to continue the , offensive. I Entente opinions at the Front go in . the direction that the fifth year of the war ought to see the finish.

; ON THE ANCRB. | (Received this day at'l.2o a.m.,) LONDON, Aug. 5. 1 Reuter’s correspondent at British ; headquarters, writing on the evening ' of the sth, states the new situation on I the Ancro will presently settle down, j Tho enemy front lino across th 0 Ancre now skirts the high ground north of i Dernacourt, thence eastward to i Meaulte. So the two sides face one | another across the wide deep valley, with open observation, rendering infantry operations difficult and costly. The ebbing German moral, under the influence of recent events, is very real, j The High Command is paying the : penalty of concealment and misrepresent , tation. Prisoners are unanimous in discrediting the statements of Ludendorff, and generally agree that sixty thousand ! were prisonered, and eight hundred ; guns captured since 12th July.