The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1918. SIGNS OF THE END.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 September 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1918. SIGNS OF THE END.

(With which is Incorporated The /aihape Post and Watronrl'io News).

No battle yet fought since the war commenced seems to have so alarmed the enemy as that recently won by the Americans in the capture of the St. Mlhiel salient, Very uttle doubt, if any, is now left about Germany’s shortage of man power; there are thirty thousand Austrians garrisoning Belgium, and other Austrian divisions are endeavouring to hold front lines in various sectors bn the West front. Even all that Austria could spare fell far short of what was required to hold back the* men sent forward by Foch, and several Bulgarian divisions have hurriedly been thrown into the fight as a last hope, for that is the last of the German allies that can be marshalled to stein the Allied tide that is flowing well on towards the full. The American victory was so complete and German defeat- so disastrous that the High Command trembles 1 for fear lest the German people should learn of their rout and. irreparable loss. The Americans appear to be exploiting their victory and the Germans continue to give fresh evidence daily ot their utter failure in further retreat and burning of villages in thei train along the banks of the Moselle river. So thorough and so overwhelming was the defeat that the entire artih ] lery of a whole German division was , captured, not one piece of ordnance 1 was left to "the fleeing Huns of that division, and the German Command dare not admit the fact. Here again Austrians were in great numbers, the larger proportion of prisoners taken being Austrians, The Americans are forcing the Germans back towards Metz and Briey, the former being an unsurpassed super-fortress and the latter the source of Germany’s chief supply of iron. A cable received yesterday discloses that fairly large towns are being destroyed by the enemy in their retreat, which include Dommarten la •Chausses, along the Thiaucourt-Metz railway, and it is nor improbable that the Americans maybe within effective gunfire of the communications between Metz and Briey. Still, Foch has not discovered where, or how his grand blow is to be delivered; in fact, it may be at either end of the whole line of battle on the West front; there is nothing to indicate where other than one’s judgment in selecting vulnerable points from whence a supremely disastrous thrust could be malle possible. The Metz area seems doomed, however; for not only are" the Americans within a few miles of that vitally important place, but the French also show signs of moving towards it from the northwest, half-circling it from south to north. There is reported activity at Les Eparges and at Etain; from the latter place to Conflans is not more than ten miles and from Conflans to Metz another six or seven miles. The main north communication between Metz and Thidhville would at once become attackable, and it looks very much as though it was Foch’s intention to isolate Metz, both from the army it supplies in France and from Germany, The valley of the Moselle seems to be the route into German territory that Ebch has selected; but that is not the sole region in which the finishing blow is to be felt, and Germany realises it. There is strong probability that the Waterloo plains, between Mons and Brussels, may yet figure in another decisive historic battle for the world’s freedom. Great activity is reported in the neighbourhood of Ostend, but it is not likely that any effort will he made there beyond that which would keep the Germans well occupied while chaotic disaster was being effected elsewhere. This is all Waat may be, but what actually does obtain is that the Huns are being severely worsted at every point of battle line; that plans are developing rapidly for the great auspicious event, and that we are on the threshold oT peace, a peace won through the entire and absolute defeat of the whole German military machine and system. President Wilson would not fix wheat prices for 1917 because peace was likely to intervene

and involve a huge loss on American wheat through wheat , stocks of the world being set free; the French Minister for War says, after four years of war the Kaiser’s armies are retiring and Prance is looking for peace, but there wilt be no victory that does not force the criminals to pay fully for their terrible crimes, “the account will be presented and paid.” Now, Sir James Allen adds to the evidences of an early peace hy telling us that reservists with ..three • children may be called into.camp, but it will not be ne- : cessary for them to leave New Zealand. Sir James Allen has also let us into the secret that. Poch’s major blow is to he accompanied by aeroplane | warfare that will put all German air outrage and terrorism into the shade. He tells -us that reprisals are to be j made that will cause all German j bombings from the air to become in* j significant by comparison; Germany j has elected to put her whole .trust in j the doctrine that might is right, and the Kaiser and hi? military swashbucklers are to be subjected to the operations of that doctrine to the fullest extreme; till the Prussian military machine seeks peace on its knees by unconditional surrender, an'd that peace is not far distant.