THE GERMAN RETIREMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 3 July 1917, Page 3

THE GERMAN RETIREMENT.

LONDON, April 22. The jadvantaglesf i which Germany claims to have secured by her retirement are clearly set forth by the military correspondent of the '' Frankfurter Zeitung," as reproduced in the "Times." The writer lays great distress on the argument of delay: "Now everything that the English have done is in vain; their heavy guns must be dismounted, and their masses of munitions must, with the guns, be brought forward for miles over ground without cover, and in face of prepared German artillery. Their positions, so carefully prepared, are now so far from the battleground that they have no further value. The railway line must be built ahead. The whole gigantic apparatus of an army equipped for the war of position must be moved a long way, and the immense work of reconnaisance must begin afresh in more difficult circumstances and in unkiown country. That wiU c ° st perhaps six weeks, perhaps two months. Perhaps there will be too much haste, and then there will be a lack of order, which is the most important thing of all in a modern attack. This loss of time, especially now, cannot in any way be repaired. Moreover, any rapid onrush of units that are ready will be prevented both by skilful behaviour of our rearguards and by the well-justified fear oT.the English of a sudden counterstroke by

Hindenburg. The English must avoid any battle during the movement, for although their individual soldiers arc brave enough, they are lacking in training for the war of movement; training is especially wanting in their leaders, who are only qualified for the administrative tasks of a 'superior trench general.' " .