EVE OF THE ALLIED DER TAG.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 September 1918, Page 4

EVE OF THE ALLIED DER TAG.

j Cables received yesterday indicated that Allied armies had moved up to the variouh fortified centres on the line which, it seems, Germany is making some pretence of determined defence, and there they were left and the whole civilised- world opposed to Germany is expectantly awaiting the result of the clash that is imminent. There is no doubt about which side will win, it is only the completeness and the far-reaching effects of victory ' in the series uf attacks the Allies are j about to make, are making, or have now there is any surprise about; it is'the calm before the storm. „ That, something, of vital import is about to happen is fully discovered in the excited condition of expectancy, of the French nation.. The Allied "Der Tag" is close, at hand and every Frenchman is asking and wondering where Foch's blow will fall. Some think it will be in Lorraine; it I may be that the Generalissimo has decided to move along •the Swiss border and invade Bavaria; or that lie may strike out towards Strasbourg and Metz, moving north between the Rhine and the mountains on the French and Luxembourg frontiers., but this is rather idle conjecture. Intelligence is to hand that Douai is being evacuated, which means a German admission that the old town is soon to return to the possession of its owners; but, retirement from Douai will make the flanking of Cambrai more easy of accomplishment. It is really an admission that no part of the line right down to Laon can be held for any great length of time, and it will probably be found that the Huns are moving back, getting ready to defend a line from the North Sea, via Maubeuge and Merzieres to Verdun, a line j of the Meuse. The situation will be clearer when St. Quentin and Laon are in Allied hands, and the degree of German demoralisation can be more correctly estimated and appraised. 1