THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 September 1918, Page 4

THE WESTERN FRONT.

The week-end news gave assurance that the war in France was continuing in Allied favour.. There was no mention of action from Arras to the sea, except a bit' of raiding, and yet recent sparring for places indicates that something of importance is on the tapis in that locality. The chief fighting on Thursday and Friday centred around St. Quentin, where the Germans undoubtedly. suffered most sanguinary defeat. Oyer ten thousand German prisoners were taken; the Australians alone taking three thousand and a huge quantity of guns, but the slaughter, we are told, was appalling, owing to the Germans, in desperation, launching fruitlessly for them, counter attacks in succession. The Australians have reached a position at Belle Eglise to the eastward of St. Quentin, well into the HindenJburg defences; the French have moved up to within two miles of the fortress, and are working a way to- the south-east-ward, and Germany seems powerless to prevent the town being encircled, at least on three sides. While the enemy is -frantically trying to retain bis hold on France. the Americans before Metz are working to render untenable the last line that ft was possible for Germany to defend with any degree of success. While the British are inflicting bloody defeat, before St. Quentin the Americans are pouring heavy shells jnto, ; the centres of Metz, destroying, -factories- and . damaging fortifications. - American aviators are overhead directing "the .gunners and reporting the Mtsy-The Germans have organised a line acros the base of the St. Mihiel salient,:but a great military authority says . it is of no great strength. It seems that the Americans intend to push . their million or two of men into this sector, which threatens the whole line of the Meuse northwards, the last line Germany had any hope of. The comparative quiet on the American front conduces to one of two views; the whole weight of America is to be thrown into an invasion of Germany, commencing at Metz, the Metz front is being kept alive while the bulk of the Americans are being moved to an equally, •or more vulnerable locality, success in which would send the enemy in headlong retreat- from all territory on the West he has invaded and occupied. By continuing the Metz operations, Foch is obviously discovering his intentions to tjb. : e T ehemy or he is colossally bluffing,’. Whicheverit may he there is a particularly .lively time ahead of the Kaiser’s legions during the forthcoming tec weeks or more.