WEEKLY WAR SUMMARY.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 August 1918, Page 3

WEEKLY WAR SUMMARY.

GERMANY'S INTERNAL STATE WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. Recent military events have had a markedly depressing effect upon German public opinion, despite all attempts to camouflage the real state of things. The conviction obviously grows that not only has the German summer campaign on the Western front failed, but that Germany in the East has assumed an impossibly heavy political burden.

From the chaos in Russia emerges the fact that the Bolshevik regime is fall-

ing. while the succeeding Government

of whatever form, is not likely to be friendly to German imperialism, which

supported the Bolsheviks. Germany took advantage of the temporary revolutionary distraction to sow seeds

of trouble in Russia, and now will reap the whirlwind on her own account. Meanwhile, the Gzeeho-Sloyaks, are valiantly contending against superior armament. They have maintained their hold in an extremely critical condition while anxiously awaiting adequate Allied help, on which their very existence depends, unless we are to sacrifice this heroic allied nation, which Britain has just recognised as such. Tho Ukraine peasants, exasperated by German military methods, are giving obstinate trouble to their oppressors, while Bulgaria and Turkey almost openly reveal their dissatisfaction with each other and Germany. In Austria, conditions arc going from bad to

worse. Even harmless women and children assembled before a shop for bread are reported to have been fired upon by the troops, while disaffection and corruption in the army, and open revolt among units, are not uncommon. Nevertheless these symptoms must be discounted, for Germany is stifts? the pillar of the Central Alliance, and only understands such physical arguments as a crushing military defeat.

J The attack north of the Somme was so successful that it exceeded expectations. The enemy’s whole front trench system was overrun, at very great cost to the enemy and very slight loss to our ‘own troops. The (German man chine gunners did not' show the same fighting qualities as during the attack on Villers JBlretonaeux, but on this occasion they left or surrendered their guns. Meanwhile, at first the British attack between the Somme and the Ancre was temporarily held up by the German attack;,, which 'caused febime confusion and upset our arrangements; but by the 9th August all was well, and the whole objective was attained. The Allies planned a converging attack on the Germans in the Montdidier salient, from three directions. This plan was most successful and the town of Montdidier was surrounderod, and captured with a large number of prisoners, the enemy being completely taken by surprise, and feebly resisting. Progress meanwhile continues all along the whole front, and the latest news states that the French are masters of the entire Lassigny ridge—a most important point, the ground dominating a considerable extent of country to the north. During the past j week the advance made was from ten ! to fifteen miles on a do-mile front. I while over 30,000 prisoners and nearly [ 700 guns were taken. German losses j were disproportionately greater than j those of the Allies, and it is probable J the complete Allied ocasualties do not f equal the number of Germans captured. No previous offensive has shown anything like such a preponderance of German dead. It is now probable that the enemy intends to withdraw further though probably not behind the Somme i despite their unfavourable position west of the river. Our nearness to the important junction of Chaulnes hampers the enemy’s usual lines of railways running from Peronnc through Chaulnes to Royc, and his communications across the river arc further made uncomfortable by fact i that the Allied airmen arc constantly { bombing the bridges. ' 1

On the west of the front, the Germans have begun a withdrawal in the Scrre salient, probably to obtain better lines and a shortened front. They also continue withdrawing on the Lys salient. Those withdrawals seem to indicate that the enemy does not contemplate a further offensive on the British front but definite conclusions are at present unsafe. However, last week's work greatly diminished the further offensive power of the Germans. The Germans’ shortage of manpower and the preponderant rifle strength of Allies make it more and more doubtful whether the Germans "ill r isk another big attack in France this year. In Northern Russia there is increasing evidence to show that the Germans contemplate an early attack on the Murman railway before long. it is most probable that Finland will declare w.ur. The Bolsheviks’ rearguard occupies positions about 100 miles south of Archangel, and is apparently largely officered by Germans. The situation in the rest of European Russia remains obscure. The reported defeat of the Czechs in the Samara re-

gion is unconfirmed,, though their peril in Eastern Siberia still makes most urgent demands for relief.. The arrival of the first British Battalion in Eastern Siberia and the advanced guard of the Allied contingent at Yladivosfock was greeted enthusiastically by the Czechs, and our prompt aid, together with public recognition of their national aspirations, should have a very strong appeal to all their compatriots all over the world. In north-west Persia and the Caucasus, the British right flank in Mesopotamia has been extended to the Caspian Sea, to assist the Armenians and the pro-Entente elements in the Caucasus and to form a barrier across Persia against Turko-German penetration. A British contingent has arrived at Baku, and is helping to defend the place. Other forces are of smaller military value, though a Russian general has now been appointed. It is hoped he may pull them into shape.

AIR FIGHTING EXTRAORDINARY.

The outstanding features of the week’s air fighting have been the severe magnitude of the conflicts on the British Western front, particularly on the first five days of the offensive. The battle raged most heavily on Thursday, August 8, between Albert and the Amiens-Roye road, where the enemy’s forces were considerably increased after the opening attack, so that fighting on an unparalleled scale continued throughout the day. Fifty British machines are reported missing, but 48 enemy machines are known to been destroyed, and 17 driven down helpless. After the initial reverses, the enemy’s air resistance noticeably weakened during the four following days. While there were 98 British machines reported missing, 142 enemy machines were destroyed and 73 driven down, making a total bag of 280 enemy machines knocked out during the battle, without counting kite balloons. During the whole week on the British Western front, 107 enemy machines have been destroyed and 108 driven down. , Meanwhile, British bombing squadrons throughout the week attacked enemy aerodromes, etc., dropping the usual number of bombs, and causing the usual handsome amount of damage to enemy military material and personnel. Much valuable help was also given to BritI ish infantry, cavalry and tank units (in the attack by low-flying British ' scouts, which ceaselessly hovered over the battlefield in considerable numbers, attacking the enemy’s resisting points and raking the already congested roads of the retreating armies with machine gun fire. Moreover, the usual immense amount of contact, patrol, and battery counter-work was successfully carried out, and thousands of negatives were taken during the battle by the British photographic squadrons. s In the Belgian theatre the British continuous offensive against the German naval bases was pitilessly persisted in, with the final results. There were many direct hits, and a number of destructive fires on all the usual points of attack. The R.A.F. independent force made a number of telling and destructive raids on German territory, attacking the usual military objectives, while on, August 12 a successful raid was carried out on aeroplane and chemical works at Frankfort. Several bursts were observed in the centre of the objectives.

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