The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1918. THE FIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 May 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1918. THE FIGHT.

(With which is Incorporated The Zaihapo. Post and Walmamo News).

The battle of the Aisne now raging is further proof that the German spy system is still remarkably effective; that it is able, not only to convey correctly the dispositions of Allied forces to the heads of the German army, but also to give reliable information of what is in the Allied mind. The sector between Craonne and Yailly is a strong position, but it was lightly held, no one, not even Maurice or any other of the expert correspondents, believing that this place would be selected by the enemy for his main effort to break through. It is true there is plenty of room to give ground in that locality, and the Germans are taking all that our lines are willing to surrender. The worst we anticipated yesterday has happened; the Germans crossed the Aisne in huge force and worked along behind the Allied front and before a retirement could be effected a large number of the French were overwhelmed and taken prisoners. This will also involve a considerable loss of guns and material. It is quite obvious that Germany has masked her intentions most successfully, and has struck a blow that caused some surprise. It seems that the whole cf the territory between the rivers Vesle and Aisne has been captured; Soisspns has fallen and if another calamity has not befallen our arms at the crossing of the Yesle it will be little short of miraculous preservation. There is a notable dearth of news coming to Australasia; we are told that within forty-eight hours the -invaders will be brought to a stand. This, of course, means that reinforcements on a large scale will have arrived to meet the tired Germans. Quite recently we were informed that the enemy was rehearsing new methods of artillery advance; it seems that guns and gunners are to move forward much as infantry have done in the past, so that whatever advance is is made—one mile or fifty—the front line of invaders will never be without some artillery support. The spontaneous exhibition of delight amongst the Germans at this success is contributory evidence to the belief that more has been achieved than anticipated, or hoped for. What the Allies have to regret is not the loss of territory but the loss cf the trained men who have been captured and lost to our fighting strength. We doubt whether the usual toll of German life has been exacted for the ground given. The attack, we believe, was a surprise, and when division after division of the enemy were thrown into this comparatively narrow front, it became the chief business of our officers to get clear of what was little short of a trap. We sincerely hope this is not the case, and even if it is, there is no occasion for serious concern; in a war of this magnitude there must be fluctuating fortune. Timid people should realise that the progress of the Allies from 1914 to 1918 will ever be recorded in history as one of the military wonders of the world. Despite the corruption of Russia, the Allied strength is fast reaching to superior, ity, even though men have to be conveyed thousands of miles by sea, braving all the dangers of enemy submarines with which sea roads are thickly infested. The danger of defeat now is as nothing to the danger in 1914. De. feat of the Allies now by Germany Is next to impossible. The very Occident and Orient will converge on Europe should it be necessary to curb Hohenzollern desire to enslave the peoples of the world. The present offensive will be held as the March offensive was held, and the fact that General Foch is expecting something of much greater magnitude than the present thrust, is definite proof that he has prepared for it, with something to

spare as a margin of safety. 'Foch is sure to have ample ‘ reserves for the protection of Paris; there will also be considerable reserves in the direction of Verdun, and both may be drawn upon to stem this effort to get between them. A’ message arriving at midday yesterday indicates that officially the Allies are viewing happenings with calmness. It is stated the enemy hoped by breaking the line to throw the French into confusion and make a great capture of prisoners, but this hope was disappointed owing to the dogged and slow retirement of the British. At three o’clock yesterday afternoon the latest official message came to hand; it stated the French were fighting foot by foot , towards Soissons, and that the battle contin. tied against the British towards Rheims. Both British and French were being pressed back from St. Thierry, three or four miles north of Rheims, but that they were holding fast between the Vesle and the Aisna Canal in the centre with varying success. Just on going to press a message stated, “Germans captured Soissons.” At the end -of the day there was no sign of the Allied line" being broken, ample reserves coming for. ward to keep that, intact. The most enervating, disappointing and discouraging fight to an enemy is to keep him In the belief that he is on the point of winning, and to let him realise in the end that strength had only been put forward just sufficient to keep him In check. Nothing in the way of main strategy or plans has yet been disclosed; it is not yet known whether the Aisne thrust is the last throw of the dice or not. At all other points attacked, notably in the Noyon-Mont-dldier section, and in Flanders, at Dickebusch, the enemy was completely beaten back, and at Montdidier the Americans made some advance. It is not likely Foch will minimise the Aisne attack and furnish reserves with such tardiness that will permit the arch-destroyers to get within effective shelling distance of Paris. That this thrust will be stopped there is little doubt, and we may take some comfort from the fact that Foch has made preparations for something of a much more colossal nature than this present struggle is likely to develop into. The Germans are shelling heavily towards Verdun and -to the southward, in the Woevre, but it is regarded only a,s a preventative to Allied troops leaving those parts of the line to reinforce the Aisne sector. This in itself is an indication that there is need for the utmost being done to make success assured, and to be ready to withstand whatever counter attacks the Allies may make. With tne bridgehead at Soissons in German possession it is impossible, with other information at hand, to form any idea or where the rush will be stopped. The Allies have plenty of room, and it is doubtful whether the enemy can accomplish very much on the narrow front he has elected to attack upon.