STAMINA THAT TELLS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

STAMINA THAT TELLS.

WHAT AMERICA THINKS OF OUI$"

ADYANCE

("Daily Express'' Correspondent.) NEW YORK.

The news that the long-expected British offensive had started arrived from L:>ndon just as the atternoon newspaper offioeb were opening for the day s work. The effect was electrical. Mexico was forgotten; the struggle at Verdun. with its dramatic give-and-take s»t Thiaumont, vanished from men's minds; the Russian approach to the Carpathians ceased to interest. Every thought concentrated cn the British activity. "Is tit the real tlrng *' queried editors of one another. "Have they gone into it r What do you think they'll do? What chance have the Germans aot ?" The questions interchanged as iittle groups gathered for a moment at a time to comment on the news that the cables were carrying. No event since the battle of the Marne aroused such lively expectations. It was ais if the Americans felt they had some large interest of their own at stake. Evereywhere the hope was cried that the British would get through. Outside the newspaper offices the bulletins attracted crowds that were reminescent of the early days of the war. When town after town appeared on the bulletins as having been captured by the British, the crowds broke into excited buzzing. Here and there a German street-corner speaker, paid bv the German propaganda to throw ridicule on the Allies' cause, attempted to exp'.a'n that the British were being checked by the Kaiser's troops, but the crowds would have no such talk. JUBILATION.

The British-born in New York held voritab!o receptions of congratulation. Friends called them on the telephone to express best wishes, and in offices other friends extended a grip of the hand and a cheering sentence of good hope. For many months the question had been persistent: " When are the British going to strike?" And now that the time had arrived there were indications of relief as well as jubilation in everybody's attitude. But coupled with the spirit of satisfaction was a tone of cautious commentr " It's stamina that has told thus far," said one American critic. "And it's stamina that's going to tell in the end. British stamina is the finest in the world. If it weien't the British would have begun the:r drive months ago before they were ready. The highest exhibition of stamina the war has seen has been the way the British have calm, ly sat in their trenches until they were ready. There's going to be another fino exhibition of stamina in the way the Brit sh will keep up their hammering. Don't expect a rush from the Somme to the Rhino in a fortnight. There will have to be a lot of careful manoeuvres and a lot of persistence, too, before the inevitable happens." This expressed the general opinion after the first excitement created ly the British advance had given way to sober, matured judgments. But every, wher.o there wa.s a feeling of optimism. Rests between the British drives were expected. American military commentators point out that even the reckless disregard for human life shown by the Germans at Verdun has necessitated frequent pauses and occasionally long intervals between attacks. The possibility is well understood that such may be tlie situation noi*th and sou*h of the Semme. ALARMED HYPHENATES. How severely the Germans must be punished before they are compelled to begin a general retreat in the west is carefully studied by American observers. It is the general opinion that it a gap of sixteen miles is opened in the German lines enough freedom of movement will be allowed to the British Army lor a general advance that will compel the Germans either to begin a precipitate retirement or risk the severance cf their northern and southern fronts in Belgium and France.

There is much evidence that the Ger-man-Americans greatly fear tie British will be ab'e to cut through for just such a demonstration as this. Here ;ind there one iearns of the whispered trepidations. If a ictreat becomes necesiary, say the German-Americans, it will be no further than Antwerp and Brussels. Then ccnio muttered threats that if by some mischance Brussels should have to be given up, it will be handed back in ruins. Beyond that point the Kaiser's American supporters do not dare/to think. American critics are of the opinion that the German General Staff has settled the final line of defence to run from the Dutch frontier through Liege and southward along the Mouse. This is believed to be the real reason why the Germans have been trying so persistently to win i trdun.