APPREHENSIVE OF GREATER OFFENSIVE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11649, 18 August 1916, Page 5

APPREHENSIVE OF GREATER OFFENSIVE.

The French and British, acting in concert last night, seem to have obtained a very signal success. They took a long Jiue of German trenches, the French advancing on Maurepas, and the British west and «onth-west of Guillemonfc, The German mysteryman on the Somme front is now guessed to be Mackensen. So be is mortal after all, and judging by the way lie is represented as talking is very much of a bluff-bag. He says that he has several hamlets to sell the British at 20,000 casualties each, but he must know that the British losses have been comparatively small and in the meantime he is being routed out of nice trenches which have taken two years to complete. —- Maximilian Harden, at any rate, is not expecting any miracles from mystery men. He was one of the most aggressive and boastful of Germans at the beginning of the war and is now quite pessimistic as to th_e future, Probably he is tpyical of tfa e German public, seeing that in Breslau alone there were 17,000 signatures appended in one day to a petition asking for peace. It is stated that the Austrians are desirous of making a separate peace with Italy with the intention of massing all available troops on the Russian front. Although Italy is only at war with Austria it is unlikely that she will desert the Allies to the extent of liberating the Austrians opposed to her armies. At present there is little peace in that section of the world war. fighting in the vicinity of Gorizia being reported as of. the most terrible description. - The French War Office has hit upon an ingenious method of repairing the human losses of the war. For every baby born dada will be allowed three days at home, when he will be able to dandle the baby instead of a rifle.