THE MARCH OFFENSIVE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1863, 10 August 1918, Page 4

THE MARCH OFFENSIVE.

Tlio extent of the information obtained by the allied commands before the German offensive opened on, March 21st was explained by Mr Bonar Law in a speech in the House of Commons on June 18th. “Bel ore the attack began/’ he said, “our Headquarters and those of our allies knew that every preparation was being made for it. We knew the position at which enemy divisions were being piled up in front of our lines, and there were all the evidences of an immediate attack. But in spile of that fac.t the stalls, both our own and the French, were a little doubtful where the attack was coming. They were doubtful for this reason, that their information made them feel sure that the German forces, through their power of bringing divisions from the Russian front, could in a few weeks subsequent to that dale be increased at a much more rapid rate than was possible for the Allies, and that, therefore the relative strength of the two forces would have been greater a month or two later than it was at the moment the attack was expected. The attack attained an amount of success which caused everyone the utmost anxiety. But three months have passed, and though the battle is a continuous one, we can look back on what has happened with some confidence. In this whole campaign the Germans had before them three great possible strategic objectives, two of which were territorial. One was the City of Paris, the other (he Channel ports, and (he third .was not only the defeat of the allied armies, but the breaking of the communications between the British and French forces. After three months, although the Allies had to give ground, and a great deal of ground, three objects have so far been attained in this great struggle. I think if anyone in (he early days of the struggle had suggested to Field-Marshal Hindenburg that after three months the position would be as it is to-day he would have treated the suggestion with scorn, and there is clear and increasing evidence in the German press that (hey are becoming disappointed with the success, great its it hits been, which has attended the German Armv so far. lam sure of this, that in the period of great anxiety through which the whole of this country was passing, if at that time we could have foreseen what the position would be three months later our anxiety would have been much less than it actually was." i Schools.’’