ANOTHER WINTER OF WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

ANOTHER WINTER OF WAR.

GENERAL MAURICE PREDICTS POSSIBILITY.

GERMANS NOT FINISHED

The war may easily extend over another winter, as far an purely military factors are concerned, according to a statement made early month by General Frederick B. Maurice, Director of Military Operations for the Imperial General Staff, in an interview given to the Canadian and American Associated Press.

"Strategy as immutable as time," 110 said, "is dominating this war as it has dominated all other conflicts. Tho btrategy of which General Lee was a master does not change with time, aud in the year 2001 military -leaders will be acting on the principles of Napoleon and Leo.

"The men over in the trenches, seeing only a brief and intimate part of the actual operations, are inclined to a-sert that the major principles of warfare have changed, but this is true only of tactics, which, according to Napoleon, change every ten years, a period which, had he Iteen alive to-day, ho probably would have reduced to five years. This is due to he increase in ii.vei.tive power over the time when Napoleon fought.

THREE GREAT INNOVATIONS

"In the tactics of this war are seen three tremendous innovations, which can prol fil.i) be placed in the following order:—First, airplanes; second, irnprowd heavy artillery, with highly explosive shells; third, machine-guns. In strategy, the immutable problems of time and space still prevail, and were Napoleon or Lee alive to-day, the genius which made them great would find an outlet.

"In a paragraph, the difference between strategy and tactics may be explained to the lay reader as follows: Strategy consists of plans for the manoeuvres of armies seeking a definite result, while tactics are the operations when two forces are in actual contact.

"The victory of the Marnc was the result of high strategy, as wad the German sweep through Belgium, and the encircling movement about Paris. Tho trench warfare prevailing since has been purely a matter of tactic*., without either side being able to make any manoeuvres in the realm of strategy. "People wonder frequently why, with the superior forces in man-power undoubtedly possessed by ihe Allies, moro progress toward victory is not made. The reason lies in the form of strategy which made the Civil War so long, and enabled Napoleon to keep his back to the wall so long when he had a coalition of Europe against him.

WAR LONG WAY FItOM END,

"Leo and Napoleon worked 011 interior lines from a central position, and they had tlie genius to make the best possible ut-e cf the great advantage this gave them. The Germans understand this form of strategy so well that even in peace times their economic nc cessities are frequently sacrificed to military needs. "In their transportation system alone, the result of this policy can he seen. Loo ar.d his small aimy held back greatly superior forces for fctir years, and there is no reason to anticipate, on purely military grounds, au early collapse of the Germans. Of course, Lee operated 011 battle lines measured 111 miles, while the present fronts extend almost acrcss continent.-, but the principles of strategy covering time and space remain the same, so the duration of this war is not surprising. "I see 110 indications of what ha* been asserted, that the Germans aro withdrawing at some places along our front because of a desire to force open fighting. This movement is a retirement forced upon them. They do not like it any more than we did when, after the t-econd battle of Ypres, wo had to retire a shorter distance to straighten cur lino.

"You may !«• sure no army likes to retire, and. therefore, it is certain that the Germans will make a determined effort somewhere to re.-tore their lost prestige.

(iATHKiny:; I'IICITS xow. "We are merely gathering the fruit of our \vinter operation.*.. the result of which is tliat from Arras to the Ancre, .-alien! decidedly dangerous to German ?»o-itiriis, lia<. lieen established.

"Our raids on the Somme front gave lis e.-nmianding positions from which our artillery tire wa - much more effective. Ihe Germans, who are no longer occupying .-nag and well-coiit-tructed dug-outs, are more than anxious to retire t > a safer line. They also probably counted on making our preparations for an offensive over this "round abortivo hy giving up their front line and compelling u.* to alter niir plans.

gi:i;ma\s not i:\iiai sti:i). "I have no patience with the idea that the Germans are at the end of llcir lighting resources. Tflev are still capable of, and will put up a strong fight, from a purely military standpiint. I see no reason why the war should not go through auntie r winter, but condition* oat.-ide 1 lie military zeno may operate to end it sooner. "How far the shortage of food in Geriii iny has affected tlie physhpie and morale < f the latent recruits i cannot .-■ay, but some deteri(irat inn from thin caii-e is almost certain, and will bccotue more and more elTeclive with the passage of time. In our armies 1 beiieve that we have the inanhoMl, an w.-ll as (lie material superiority, which will result in ultimate victory." General Mauriie belongs to a family of military students. His fathir wan Professor <f Military SVieUce in tile War St aIT College, and was famous as :v military historian.