The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY. AUGUST 20, 1918. THE GERMANS IN RETREAT.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 August 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY. AUGUST 20, 1918. THE GERMANS IN RETREAT.

(With which is Incorporated The Taihape Post and Walroarlao News).

The Allied offensive on the West Front is continuing satisfactorily, and stil exhibits no sign of coming to a close. The burden of yesterday’s cables was the fighting and progress of the Franco-British in the southeastern corner of the line, that is, around Roye, Lassigny and Noyon. General Humbert’s army has made rapid progress in face of the work that confronted him at the outset. He has taken two of the strongest naturally fortified positions on the whole line, the massif of Lassigny and the Thiescourt massif, and he is now within a mile or two of Noyon, if that place has not already fallen. 1 At the commencement of Foch’s third phase of his great enterprise it was stated in these columns that Humbert started with clearing up the country southwest of Lassigny, but his real mission was to drive in between the Crown Prince’s Army in the Soissons-Rheims sector and Prince Rupprecht’s Army in the Noyon-Montdidier sector, pushing up the valley of the Oise. Now there are clear indications that this is the purpose sought to be accomplished, and unless Ludendorff can put in sufficient strength, or is prepared to rapidly evacuate country to keep fas line intact, it is not the Allies that Avill be driven apart, but the two greatest armies of the enemy, just mentioned. Humbert with his guns is on the outskirts of Noyon, after having pushed his way some six miles along the Oise, and having stormed the natural fortresses of Lassigny and Thiescourt; the direction he is to travfel is being mapped out for us by aeroplane action. Monday’s cables stated that they were vigorously bombing along the Oise, at Tergnier, and as far back as Mezieres, \ ■fc-s the railway which carries all the enemy supplies from their depot at St. Quentin, runs down the Oise Valley past Tergnier to Chauny and Noyon, it is important it should be renj dered unusable, and the action of I aeroplanes reported indicates that | Humbert is ready for having his road j cleared as much and as rapidly as I possible. The Germans will, undoubtedly, concentrate all their available. . force against the Humbert mission, I for the consequences of its success would be incalculably more disasI trous than a successful push-in eastward, from Chaulnes, by the FrancoBritish forces, as it would not only compel retreat of the armies to the north, but also those now before the Americans from Soissons to Rheims, and to as far eastward as Verdun and the river Meuse. Speculations have already commenced being made as to where Foch’s next drive will be made, and several people predict another surprise by a strong movement from the neighbourhood of Verdun, and should this eventuate it is an indication that Foch has under way wffiat may lead to final victory. Instead of finishing up the acquisition of prior objectives, he is bringing new schemes into view, and it is the evi- j dence of these new schemes that is 1 causing the German line to be moving back at various points from the Compeigne to Flanders. While in war it is not discreet to count upon Anything more than what transpires from day to-day, it is well-known that the strategic plans of generals provide for most comprehensive action with corresponding results, and, as there is nothing in view to at all indicate that Poch’s offensive is near its ending, but, on the other hand, that it is to be, and is being, extended, or, in other words, that his strategic plans are showing unmistakeable signs of persistent and satisfactory development, there is strong cause for believing

that it will continue for some long time yet to come. Between Albert and Arras the Germans are retiring and are being driven back on Bapaume, and here we have familiar ’ names recurring. The British are already moving eastward of the river Ancre, and from the retreat becoming increasingly rapid it portends that it is a movement to the rear of a general character. British troops are now marching on Thiepval, Miraumont and Achiet le Petit, doing little more than occupying village after village as the Germans leave them, travelling to the eastward. Country that the enemy took at a high cost in life of the best storm troops is being evacuated and a further toll is being exacted by the pursuers. With the Germans eastward and retiring on Bapaume it becomes growingly dangerous to maintain a hold on Albert, where an acute salient is in course of formation by the retreat towards Bapaume on the north and the drive in to past Chaulnes on the south. It is obvious that Albert must be abandoned,' unless, of course, Rupprecht can successfully counter-attack, and indications of that kind are entirely wanting; in fact that genius in retreat, in rescuing armies from what looks like certain capture, von Boehm, has replaced Prince Rupprecht in command. He saved the Crown Prince’s Army on the Marne, and he is now commissioned to save the army under Prince Rupprecht. To revert to the position on the southern line it may be noted that west of Soissohs the Allies are vigorously attacking north of the Aisne, clearing out the corner between Fontenoy and Noyon, no doubt intending to reach the Ailette, or at least to keep German troops in that quarter too much occupied to render it possible for them to give help to Humbert as he moves along the Oise, Viewing whatever aspect of the war one will the situation is most satisfactory and gratifying, except, perhaps, to those few dunderheads and pessimists who cannot see a church unless they, are inside it, and even then are doubtful. General . Maurice says: “Whatever the results, we can watch the enemy’s, solution with quiet satisfaction;” and ;in : an interview General Humbert saysj “We are now able to foresee how the war will end,” and he insists that the Allies must hold to their terms of peace to the fullest extent.