The Task Before the Allies.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 September 1917, Page 4

The Task Before the Allies.

NATURE OF ENEMY DEFENCES. DIFFICULTIES OF THE ADVANCE. A description of the German defensive system on tlie west front, and of the difficulties with which the Allies have to contend has been given in. a letter xeceived in Auckland from an officer commanding a battalion of a famous Scottish xogiment. He went to France with the original ExpeditionaryForce, and is still "in the firing linp." Ho was wounded on the Aisne, and was among tho first British officers awarded the Military Cross and to Teceive French honours. This officer also served throughout tho war in South Africa, and has seen service in India. Writing at the beginning of August, he says: —"We pushed through part of the Hindenburg line, but got hung tip against the next line, a strongly prepared one. Vimy Ridge and our old curse, the Mcssines Ridge, both fell to systematic hammering, and now north of Ypres, we have gained a bit more. The trouble is simply that there are no end of prepared lines, one behind tho other, well wired and packed with machine guns. Each line is sited in the best position, i.e., leaving practically no gun positions for us. Infantry advances sre limited to the distance our artillery can cover, and guns must be brought up before further advance can be made. We have been handicapped again by very wet weather, and the difficulties of getting up ammunition, guns, stores, food, and water to tho front line where roads are blown to pieces and the ground is a quagmire, defy description. Trenches and strong points exist for miles behind the present front, so 'breaking through' anywhere on the western front is a problem that will not be solved until the Bosche is too weaknumerically to hold the line. Truth is the Sosohe is still full of fight, has considerable confidence in himself, and hopes great things from his submarines. "If the people at Home and in the Dominions overseas keep a stiff upper lip and determination to carry on to the bitter end, all will be well. No one could speak too well of the men in the field—tho most cheery and gallant souls on earth. lam always thankful to God I for the privilege of serving with them. On anything like equal terms, they smash the Hun evory time. Tho 'other fellow' had 40 years' start, so we must be patient. The guns now are never silent, day or night, and we must simply go on, whoever goes down, until the uncloan German is thoroughly beaten."

In a previous letter the officer referred to the overseas troops. "Very delighted with the stamp of fellows we have here from New Zealand and Australia," ho wrote. "They are splendid fighting men, full of energy and keenness. It is a real treat to meet euoh men.''