THE CAMPAIGNS. FRENCH AND BRITISH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17279, 21 September 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

FRENCH AND BRITISH.

A statement regarding the number of German divisions employed in tho Somme battle was made in the courso of Sir Douglas Haig’s survey of recent operations, and this point is elaborated in a message wo publish this morning. It is reported that sinco tho beginning of July the enemy has had no fewer than fifty-three divisions on tho front north and south of the Somme, which means that at one time or another a million Germans have been engaged. Of tho fifty-three divisions no fewer than twenty-eight ha-vo been broken so badly that tney have had to be withdrawn; olevcn others have been relieved, so that presumably only fourteen aro actually in the trenches. It goos without saying that the Allies must have concentrated a great force for the offensive, and it is scarcely likely that fewer than 800,000 British and French have been employed. The practice of tho Allies, of course, is'to give tho men relief at frequent intervals. A brigade that has been in one heavy attack is rested while another takes up the work, the effect being to bring always fresh spirit and energy into the assaults. Moreover, the enormous concentration of Allied guns has relieved tho strain on the infantry, and the Germans have suffered relatively at a much higher rate than tho Allies because they have had to endure the pounding of tho artillery as as tho fire of rifle and machine gun and tho attack of tho bnyouet. It is stated that tho life of a German division sinco tho beginning of July has averaged nineteen days, tho inference being that already more than forty enemy divisions have been so severely handled’ that they have been, or should have been, sent back to tho dopots for reorganisation. As thirtynine divisions are accounted for in the “casualty list” of units, this estimate is not very wide of the mark, and in the course of tho next week or so another dozen divisions should also bo due at tho repairing depots. The question of importance is how long the Germans can endure this supremo test, a test not so much in tenacity as in man power. Possibly they are relying on the winter to save them, bat if, as seems likely, the intensity of the fighting increases vrith 1 tho’approach ot bad weather, ’thehtkct'Tuic weeks may add another quarter ! of a million to their casualties in the Somme area, and may put another twenty-five or thirty divisions out of action.

Broken weather has been interfering with the operations in Franco, where no chango of importance has occurred. Tho Russian reports show that an intense struggle is raging north of the Dniester, where tho reinforced enemy has been counter-at-tacking heavily. The Russians have made some progress in tho Carpathians, but the fighting there is now under difficult conditions, and the enemy is resisting stoutly. No development is reported from Rumania. In Macedonia the success of tho Allies’ left is being developed, and the retreating Bulgarians are said to be evacuating Monastir— -a probable event in view of the punishment that has been inflicted on them.

The opening of tho 'great push north of tho Somme was hailed throughout Franco with expressions of joy. In spito of all tho protestations to the contrary it is highly probable, that the British jmsition was little understood by tho mass of tho French people. Throughout tho long struggle around Verdun they had watched for a sign from tho British front, and none had come. It is true that Sir Douglas Haig had offered to strike and that a whole. French army had been replaced by British troops in tho trenches, but something moro was expected. It was not really appreciated that the British were under orders, that they were impatient to be attacking and that the Allied Council of "War was holding them until the psychological moment arrived. ."When at length they did strike, and strike to some purpose, tiic acknowledgment of tho French newspapers urns prompt and complete, and as tho days went by, revealing tbo determination and power of the British armies, tho admiration gave place to astonishment. In the. “Observer” M. Philippe Millet writes of the “extraordinary impression ” made by tho British offensive on the minds of the French people. “They did not know much about vour Army, and had grown to be sceptical,” he says. “All those of us who devote their efforts to explaining Great Britain’s position wore listened to with polite smiles, but moro or less distrusted. Tho French peasant is not a fool; he quite understood that tho British Fleet was rendering us a magnificent service by keeping the mastery of tho seas, but, being too narrow-minded to grasp some of the difficulties you havo been contending with, he did not, at tho bottom of his heart, believe in tho British Army. The thunder on tho Somme has cleared away all those poisonous clouds.” Thero is an interview in the “Daily Telegraph ” with M. Gaillaux, a former Premier, which shows liow observant men of affairs havo been impressed. “ Tho British race has astonished friend and foe by the miracle —I know of no moro fitting term to apply to it —it has accomplished,” lie declares. “No one, however conversant with the dominant features of the British people, their steady, placid resolution, their firmness of will, the tenacity with which they cling to hallowed traditions, could havo expected this transformation. Nothing that one knew foreshadowed it. Their ideals of political life seemed to eliminate it. I havo read complaints of tho slowness with which it cameThey are wholly unjustified. There was something so sublime in this transmutation of tho most pacific people of Europe into a- nation of gallant soldiers that the fact will be rememberod for all time as one of the loftiest landmarks of history. Future generations will discern tho grandeur of the achievement athwart the modesty of its aluthors and the gradation of their methods.” "When it is added that ever since tho battle of Jutland the French newspapers have frankly expressed the view that the British fleet is really the dominant factor in the war, and that tho influence of British sea power continues to he the theme of articles in journals great and small, we need no longer wonder whether France appreciates tho part that Britain is playing in tho war. She is not called upon to share in tho suffering of the invaded countries, but tho communiques show that she is exerting her weight and the lengthening casualty lists leave uo room for doubt whether she is paying her part of the price for liberty and peace.