THE WAR POSITION.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 December 1917, Page 5

THE WAR POSITION.

# <•- LONEL KEPINGTON'S VIEWS. iATJTHE FUTURE HOLDS IN STORE. Received 9.20. LONDON, Dec 30. strong fighting note marks re?s of the war and prospects for slonel Repington says we must adthatj owing to grave political and tary misfortunes, we are liable to iard beset in—the West, and it is nearly certain that in case of >erate decisions the German naval will not remain unused. Discing the prospects, Colonel Reping:states that twenty-one German sions have now moved westward i Russia, but tvvelve tired divis have gone to Russia from ice. The last thing the German ernment tTssfres to allow is the rchic disruptive £b£shevik r .. nos to percolate to Germany,: conseeastern frpnt' of ...1200, i hiust ,J "be; closely guarded. - He, mates between 30 and 40 German 3iofip ty wiir'be' relieved for the west, re urgently requires a. sioii owing to the impending arL of large Americafi, forces and the. 3ening internal conditions. Colonel ington admits the maintenance of nan strength .throughout 1918 Is ired; v »|suming operations are larto Sl7; .thus, it will be 1919 re the attrition.operates. The reion "of the Italian front by one ired miles makes the Austrians-y-four divisions there ample for nee. Therefore it is expectable teii Austrc-Eungarian divisions appear in France, probably in AI- !. Together, Austro-German reinements will equalise fighting ngth' on the west, but will net prothat superiority needed for a dere offensive, Germany is likely sndeavour to apply her favourite l Of enveloping attack, remaining oful to her old dislike of parallel ors on the west front. The Allies 3 won the best positions in the t, and their airmen's initiative, r great artillery and machine-gun will render such attacks lier than ever those on Verdun e. The enemy may shear away allies to a narrow margin of numal superiority, throwing us on the uasiy£«but he hasn't that crushing mcrrsnd guns which it shown would be necessary ag\t entrenched confident troops.