The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1916. THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 130, 3 June 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1916. THE WAR.

(With which is incorporated The Tai bape Post and "Waimarino News.)

The war situation lias improved very much from the Allies' point oJ view during the past week. Although the man sent by Germany to perform the Verdun trick was of unprecedented gigantic military proportions he has utterly failed to drive out the perky little Frenchman. The defence has been more than equal to the offensive, and although it seems apparent that her whole western line has been called upon to reinforce the Verdun effort Germany is again beaten to a standstill. She may again essay to drive back the gallant determined Frenchmen, but, admittedly, her chances of success weaken with every failure; the elan of her own forces is gone while the spirits of her plucky foe have risen to the highest point. 'Germany has again and again poured reinforcements into the Verdun vortex, only to have them slaughtered a s were those that came with the first assault. No matter what the strength of an army, no more than a limited number of men can operate in a limited area. Germany strained the limit of men, but as fast as the waves of girey nniforms came on |they were mown down like grass by the superbly placed artillery and machine guns of the defenders. Germany cannot continue such warfare for long; that it has absorbed nearly all the effort she is capable of exerting is proved by the bottom having fallen out of the much vaunted Comiand campaign, and by the stoppage through weakenings of forces at other points, notably against the British, on the Western front. We watch with intensest interest what the next definite move will be for there is unmistakeable evidence to show that Germany can no longer keep up a pressure on all points; she has learned that her estimate of force necessary to effect a successful diversion at Verdun was

woefully )below what was and she will hesitate to put confidence in other estimates t'Gr securing victory at other points of the Western and also the eastern line. France and Britain are calmly confident that Germany is outfought, and that her struggles from now on are only those of a caged savage beast. In all other war arenas, excent on the Italian front, there is similar cause for the greatest

satisfaction, and with the failure in France and a commencing Russian activity just north of Roumania, in ? E'essarabia and Volhynia, it is very doubtful indeed whether the Austrian offensive will continue for very long. The coordinated machine to operate from two points, Salonika and Bessarabia has given undoubted signs that it is ready to force a junction, but Germany can do nothing more than contribute officers for the Turk and Bulgar opposition. With a Russian advance in Bessarabia Austria will require all the forces she can summon to render it as slow as possible, for she is now powerless to stop it, and this will necessitate the moving of men and guns from in front of Italy. All Austria can hope to accomplish in Italy Is the establishment cf a line that can be held with the least possible number of men and guns. This attack is more r>. feint to influence operations in other arenas than to invade Italy; like Verdun it is to have its effect in Austro-German favour on any peace negotiations that might be brought about. The Bulgarian move in Macedonia does not seem to be regarded very seriously by General Sarrail. He says they liave fired a few hundred thousands of shells, and; so far, have killed one of his men and injured another, but if they do become annoying he will take them seriously. That is how the Allies regard the Bulgar display, strongest evidence that there is little to fear when the time for forward movement arrives. In Mesopotamia the situation is better than could have "been hoped for a month ago. British forces under Generals Lake and Gorringe are again in the highest spirits, acting in the offensive engaging as many of the Turks as possible to keep them from standing in 'five way of the Russian army taking possession of Mosul —the '-iblical Nineveh. Even now the ancient city of "Bagdad may be en the noint of being beseiged. There are ■""ot sufficient Turkish forces there that can ston 'he Russo-British from surrounding Bagdad; and here again I Germany i s impotent; she has noth- j hig to give or lend the Turk that ! "'ould be cf any service. Germany

's overpowered on all fronts and in "11 arenas. Tho srreat trial of strength M as made et Verdun and Germany differed a "bloody defeat. With the Verdun result and Russia sweeping --ver Mesopotamia and the Caucasus, ! t seems that the days of Turkish resistance are numbered, or that it will be reserved for the last defence of Moslem "life in Europe from a national ncint of view. The turning point in f he,, : war ha?? .been reached, but Germany may struggle on against the fetters that the Allies will insist shall be placed upon Prussianism. Each manacle will, in the : utmost probability, be resented and there will be ravings and reckless bloodshed for som e time to come after Germany has fully realised that she is utterly inr eanable of securing any victory that would influence for her a more favourable peace.