Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd. 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd. 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

Thb military advantage of the Allies in the campaign grows more and nioitmanifest day by day. The liberation . of the Belgian coast is proof positive to the deluded German populace that they can never reach the Channel ports, which their naval leaders held to be an essential cause for continuing the war, and a justification for submarinism. The striking advance on the Lillc-Douai ; -he Cateau line goes fqr to liberate northern France also from enemy dominance. It is impossible to reach the account -<rf the emancipation brought ( to the Flemish and French people, witli- , out feeling more and more loathing for the German soldiery who have been responsible for so many horrors put-up-on innocent people. The accounts oi the diabolical ruthlessncss can have but one effect—to assist more and more determinedly than ever for unconditional surrender and the.iullest penalties for all the miscreants who wore responsible for ordering the horrors put upon defenceless people. Reparation, too, should be. made to the uttermost farthing for all the loss and damage occasioned by the wanton destruction and robbery and arson for which the Gorman troops are guilty. These stories from repeued sufferers over-ride nil Notes which President Wilson can dictate. The feeling will become universal , that the settlement of the war must oe left entirely to Foch to impose the eompletesfc defeat on the enemy ,or the most humiliating terms be thinks desirable. Justice can never be satisfied by any 1 penalties which mere man can put upon Germany now, for the world stands appalled at the depth of her dishonour and 1 iniquity. Meantime Foch is working to the inevitable victory by successful military strategy. We have just seen how satisfactory matters are progressing in the northern theatres. To the south, from St. Quentin to Rhcims, and ] from Rlieims to the Meuse, all is going well. The Fran co-America ns are working northward to Ardennos and it would appear that the two great forces, one working east from Bohaln and one working north from Vou/.iercs, are destined to meet at Mezieres. The operations in the Sambro region are becoming interesting. If it. is possible to secure Valenciennes shortly, Mens will be the next- objective in that region. Tli<> British will spare nothing to reach that point of great historic interest to them. Then will follow the effort to release Brussels from the German grip. The immediate outlook from a. military point of view is full of great promise, if the weather holds at all favourably for the time being. The Meuse will become the enemy defensive lino, hut this can be but on .sufferance, for the Allies are across the Meuse in France, and so will be working up to Longuvy and Belgium by that route. 'Flic rapidity with which the general advance is being made shows that the former cohefe’iton of the enemy is badly broken. The main defences are now penetrated, and the forces following up the retreating armies are evidently not giving the enemy much rest to create fresh bar riers more or less impregnable. The vie torioua advance so gallantly maintained is the best guarantee of all for the speedy, successful ending of the war. With the Allies approaching the, gates, the enemy people will grow more and mote alarmed and more ahxious than ever for an abiding peace.