THE BRITISH REVENGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 August 1918, Page 4

THE BRITISH REVENGE.

"The British Revenge," as our brave French Allies have dubbed the offensive launched last Friday morning by General Haig, is the record seusation of the war; not only has the greatest advance been made in the shortest

time, but the captures of men and guns'' also constitute records in themselves. In two days twenty-five miles was covered and twenty-lfUve thousand prisoners were captured. Yet these are not the most vitally important aspects of the first two days work; one hundred miles of the German line has been thrown into a chaotic condition; opportunities have i been made for pinching off salient after salient, the first being that of •Montdidier, and there are those of Lassigny and Noyon to follow. The wedge in to Chaulnes runs north of i these salients, and the French are driving in wedges from the south, splitting them off" and bagging all the men, guns, munitions and material they contain. Even this does not complete ; the story of gains; we have said in a previous issue that Foch did not appear to be hastily pressing the enemy on the Veslc, between Soissons and Rheims, and now we have an explanation in the fact that "The British Revenge/' is outflanking the German position there. The disaster to the enemy is fraught with such farreaching and comprehensive results that itis idle to commence to estimate them at this stage. What is in Foch's mind no one can say, but there are indications that ho intends to drive the hated Boche right out of France with his great multiple swoop now in execution. By their frequently amended opinions, it is obvious that Foch has completely bewildered all war correspondents and experts. The Marne offensive was to end at the Vcsle with no thought of outbreak elsewhere; now it is to terminate when, or before, the Hindenburg line is reached; to-morrow it will end by the Germans being driven out of France altogether. When the "British Revenge," at Amiens has done its work, the Belgians will participate in writing off a few old scores; but it cannot be seen at present how far Foch is able to go and that the lenemy cannot make any real stand at present, is obvious.'