The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1917. THE WAR TO-DAY.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 October 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1917. THE WAR TO-DAY.

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

Whether the war will continue for another two months or two years, it cannot . b/3 denied that it is now presenting features of a decisive nature, which may '.actually provte decisive before the end of the year. Although there are few people who would risk public derision in definitely daring to prophecy anything of the kind, fighting now gives one the impression that finishing touches are being put to the work. War sensations follow upon each other in rapid succession. We are made aware that,the French are far from exhausted,* and led to realise that their armies have rather refrained from major action in playing their part in the Allied plan than from any weakness or exhaustion. Yesterday the world would be electrified . by the brilliant victory, with the capture of over eight thousands of prisoners and one hundred and fifty guns of all kinds. A moderate estimate of Germany's loss in men in this one battle is twenty-six thousand and what sort of men? Two complete regiments of German guards were captured, one of which is the famous fifty-fifth, who had earned the title of invincibles. The French are performing the ' work in the co-ordinated plan that has been allotted them, and they are doing it well above expectations. It was somewhat of a fatal error for Germany to assume that the tired feeling had got into French forces, for appalling payment is now being exacted in Teuton life for its stay in Frence, and not a shadow of doubt now remains that a retreat must shortly be made to someother Hindenburg line, or quarters of a much safer nature. A dual offensive on the Meuse, north of Verdun, presents a clear indication that the French intend the Germans to go back in the very now future. Taking into consideration the persistence of the British around Ypres, it seems evident that France will very soon be able to farewell the last German on French territory, for the next strong line will, almost assuredly, run from Verdun along the Meuse to Mezeires and then along the frontier mountains, cutting across Belgium to near Antwerp. This is quite a reasonable view to take of the position in France at this moment. Further, we are told that the Americans have several divisions in France already, but, that General Pershing will not put them into until fully prepared, a statement that

opens up a wide field for thought. They are not wanted yet; the working out of war plans has not reached the stage when they can be most profitably employed. When these Ameri can divisions are put into the balance against Germany, Hun buttons will be made to fly. Some grand coup is in preparation for the initial drawing of the American sword; the people of tho. western hemisphere are eagerly waiting for the electrification that the prowess of its men is to furnish, | and we may be sure it will come, and appearances are that there is not long to wait. The news from Eussia is such as to strain one's power to believe. Only the other day disaster had befallen the revolution-riven Slavs, then it dawned upon the people that Russian losses were nothing like so serious as reports indicated. Now, we are officially infprmed from both Russia and Germany) that a great strategic retreat, or an advance to the rear, is what the Teutons are desperately engaged in. They had retired in the Riga region fifteen miles Avhcn the news was dispatched and so fast were they going that Russian vanguards could not keep in touch with them. Russia has repulsed attempts to land other Hun forces on the coast, but the supermen cannot admit being driven back, nevertheless this marching backwards and forwards over Russian territory looks a little meaningless without the idea of compulsion, and it will take some explaining. There is the bare official fact that the Huns arc running from the road to Petrograd so fast that Slav vanguard cannot keep up with them. It may be that the decision has been reached that a winter line near Pskov would be fraught with irreparable disaster and that safety demands falling back to the lake country where, a defensible line is easier held. Then, we were informed by cable yesterday, that an extremely great battle was raging on , Isonzo front, in the neighbourhood of Tolmino. Why at Tolmino? Because it ' is the entrance to the road through the Julian Alps, that leads to Vienna or rather it dominates the railway entering the mountains from St. Lucia. That is why the Austrians and Germans have concentrated all their available forces to defend it, and it is just why England and France have sent men to assist Italy to become masters of that highly important locality. At Tolmino the Isonzo forms an acute angle; its course from Tar- j nova running dud' east turns sharply at the Tolmino mountains and from thence runs south westerly. It is from the plateau .in this angle «that the railway enters the Julian Alps. Then on to the Austrian Alps where its defence would b'e exceedingly difficult. Both belligerents "attach the utmost importance to the "possession of this section of railway, and, consequently, a tremendous battle is raging participated in by Germans arid Austrians and by Italians, English and French. When troops were leaving England a short time back it- seemed as though" they were needed much more urgently in •Italy and in Macedonia than they were at Bagdad. Now we learn that they are with the Italians striving for the entry of the road through the Alps that leads to Budapesth and Vienna. In forming ah opinion of the strength of Germany we have to note that the naval bluff against Russia has been little more than a complete failure, Germany did not even capture a Russian tugboat; that the drive across country to Pskov, almost entirely undefended, has resulted in having to quick-march back again; that the Roumanians are more than holding their ground; that General Maude is making great headway in Mesopotamia; that the Allies are successfully moving in Macedonia; that the British are pushing back the line in Flanders; that the French have scored a brilliant victory at that corner of the line nearest Paris; that similar victories are being achieved on the Meuse, north of Verdun; that divisions of Americans arc just wait ing for an opportunity to throw in their strength; that the submarine hope of the Hun is doomed, and, lastly, that a tremendous battle is now raging for the doorway to the road to Vienna. Russian defection has" delayed the final, but who will say that events hare no indication that- the end is drawing near?