The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1918. THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 May 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1918. THE WESTERN FRONT.

■. With which is Incorporated The /a*

hape i'«st and News).

General Foch and all the officers of the higher command have told Mr. Lloyd George that they are very confident of the future, The British Prime Minister went to Prance to learn exactly how matters with the armies of the Allies stood; he visited not only Generals Foch, Haig and Pershing, but also regimental officers, and did not neglect to get the views of the rank and file at first-hand. He wanted to know what the men who do the heaviest fighting; those who are earning Victoria Crosses almost every day and sometimes ten times a day in the front ranks of defence and attack, and he found their confidence was amazing. They could not understand the wrangling and fear of disaster at home; there was neither pacifism or pessimism amoTlg either officers or men. When tie enemy take ground he pays an enormous price for it. The generals told him that they could always buy land if they were prepared to pay the purchase price, but the Germans were paying a heavier price than they could afford. The German high military command did not get the amount of land they paid the price for, and that has rendered it very doubtful whether what they did get is not a disadvantage rather than otherwise. All the generals of the Allied armies told Mr. Lloyd George they are certain the Germans will soon be sorry they committed themselves to these attacks, even if they are not already so; and that was the feeling general in all ranks. No civilian can juxtapose his views to thrjse held by the whole of the armies from generals downwards, nor can it be assumed that Mr. Lloyd George could present to the world anything vary-' 'ng in the slightest to what he actually received, therefore, however we may regard the loss- of ground, and whatever we may assess the strength the enemy can put into future attacks we must share to some extent that confidence possessed by the men who do the actual fighting, as well as that of their generals. This offensive has been productive of great good; the Allies were at a great disadvantage from diversity of command; it was this offensive that brought about absolute unity, it also caused ffie speeding up of American effort to swell both the fighting line and the reserves in France. French and British are now equipping American troops, thus saving tonnage and permitting it to be devoted entirely to the transport of troops. America's contribution of troops, we are told by the American Secretary to the Navy, will only be measured by the tonnage available. Three hundred thousand tons have been hired from Sweden, and building is going on at an increasingly rapid pace, and, as one result of speeding up measures, there are to be many more Americans landed in France in May than there were in April. In the meantime there is a comparative lull in the fighting, strong and forceful feelers only being put out from time to time. That the Germans had shot the bolt they had forged to reach decision is strongly evident. Before the offensive Reichstag and Press were unanimous that there should he no more magnanimous peace offers; the Allies had refused to consider the generous proposals Germany had made; they had rendered themselves responsible for the continuance of the slaughter, and peace terms by virtue of the sword and cannon would be persisted in till brutal Britain was on her knees begging for German mercy; and yet there is a return to the old style of peace campaign, a campaign Germany only takes to when victory with the sword looks impossible for her. We have no surer indication that the plans of Hindenburg and Ludendorff to break through the FrancoBritish line and seize the Channel ports has failed than the reappearance of proposals for peace by negotiation. Before the offensive, when the German mind was crowded with visions of success, the terms included a huge indemnity, return of all colonies and retention of all eastern territory invaded, present terms have not. yet been disclosed. Germany is well awcre that no peace terms loss than absolute victory will he acceptable to the Allies, and these campaigns are mere excuses for gaining time to repair broken forces that are ineffective from the hammering of Allied guns. The three-quarters of a million casualties have to be replaced as far as possible. Germany says the Finland campaign is finished, but it is morr probable that the m°n in Finland ,?r----more urgently needed on the West

front. The Superman Command could not realise that it would require more men than their greatest total available to push the Franc o-Brritish info the'sea, and they left some to pursue a campaign of brigandage in Finland and elsewhere; it was either this or all must starve, soldiers could not fight unless fed. To replace western losses every available man is being withdrawn from other fields of operations. Knowing the peace business will be scouted by the Allies, all the effort possible is being concentrated for continuing the channel port plan. Allied generals and soldiers are aware of what is coming and they have told Lloyd George that they are quite confident of results—let them all come. It is a little significant of the smallness of the German mind that this greatest of all battles in history is no longer referred to as the Kaiser's Battle, but newspapers and military experts are telling the people that no "Sedan" is possible; Ypres is very strong and the British are very stubborn. After all, Ypres is of no importance to Germany and the German Command may decide not to take it. We all know this decision has been reached upon the best of evidence—as a son of Hibernia is credited with saying, "It is the greatest possibility in the world for a man to»do wTTnout that he cannot have." It is satisfying to know that the Allies are awaiting the future with the utmost confidence, a confidence amounting to opl/'mism.