The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1917. THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 March 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1917. THE WAR.

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

The German retreat continues, though with a show of greater resistance. Roads are bad, rendering both flight and pursuit much slower. A large proportion ot the news coming to hand is mere speculation by experts as to where the Germans will make a stand, but much must depend upon circumstances, the mobility of the Allies and the facilities for getting German guns and equipment to where the next line that is to be seriously defended is drawn. One immense curve has already been umen out of the line, which is now almost direct

morn Armeutieres to Craonne, through Vi try, Cambrai, St. Quentin, and Lacn. It is very interesting io note the direction of retirement, as indicating what the German intention

is. From the Somme to north of Arras the line that ran north and south is rapidly assuming an east to west

formation, and it seems that this movement must continue until it reaches from Ypres to Maubeuge. Some are of opinion that the present line from Nieuport, on the North Sea coast, will extend as at present to Armeutieres, there turning sharply east, towards Alaubeugo, but that

would form an acute angle very difficult to defend, being attackable from two sides. A stand may be mad e on a front from north of Armentieres, through Lille, on to Maubeuge. Whether this is intended or not it is certain that the direction of fighting north of th e Somme is quickly changing, and the British are already fighting with the midday sun behind them. There is no doubt that Germany will defend her right flank on the North Sea coast with great forces. If she is pressed so hard by the Allies that a retirement becomes necessary, Maubeuge would probably become the pivot for bringing the line back to Antwerp, along the hilly country through Mons, again changing the front to a line north and south. Namur is reported to be the German nerve centre at the present time, and it will not be at all surprising to' learn that Germany’s ultimate aim is to again reach the line of the Meuse, from Liege, Namur, Givet, Mezieres, Montmedy, Stinay, on to Verdun. Certain it is, with the shortening of their line, the Allies will crowd in upon them. We have to learn what will i happen when two such immense armies are moving, one pushing the ; other back; how long a time will be required to re-lay railway systems destroyed so that the Allies may bring their greatest calibre guns to bear on new positions selected by the enemy. To economise men, guns must be brought up, therefore there will be periods for consolidation and organisation, the building up of strong positions from which another jump off may be successfully made. On the French front, from Roye to Verdun, the direction of retreat is more obscure. The most westward enemy lines are moving up the valley of the Oise, and if this is continued they will join up on the flat country about Maubeuge and Hirson. To the northward of Soissons, on to Craonne, the French are strongly attacking, while at Verdun violent artillery work is proceeding almost continuously. Ver-

dun seems to be the pivot on which the enemy is wheeling back, and for the success of his retirement it must be held. ; The retreat, notwithstanding that many hundreds of miles of country have been re-captured, is still ! in its initial stages,. not havingadvanced far enough to enable any reliable opinion to be formed of what German strength is capable of doing or withstanding. As the utmost pressure (is being kept up by the Allies, we may soon have sufficient light to see what the work before the Allies is likely to amount to. Naturally, while our Eastern ally is in the throes of a revolution, there would be little doing on the Russian front. Germany will, however, realise that no forces will be available from thence to use against the Franc.o-British in the West, as was anticipated when the Czar-Kaiser had some likelihood of proving a trump card. Another aspect of the adjustment of belligerents has arisen. It is reported that Austria may make separate peace with America, which explains the persistent rumour that separate peace is shortly to be arranged between Russia and of, course, becomes feasible and probable if it is true that President Wilson is already well forward ip negotiations with Austria, in which, ■it - sdemsA a part of the contract is that Austria shall give up all Slav territory’'to Russia and take compensation 'from South Germanic States.*ThisHS" quite a new develop-

ment that is being sprung upon the world from the United States, and it is not wanting in evidence of being quite worthy-of credibility. Should the reports on this arrangement p'rove true then the end of the war will come very soon. On the Salonika front war in great force and magnitude is proceeding north of Monastir. In fact, on all fronts except the Russian the utmost pressure is being kept up so men may not be moved from one theatre to another. The present outlook for the Allies is very bright indeed.