GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1916, Page 4

GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST.

TII9 morning's cables contain a message from the Daily Mail's correspondent at Rotterdam to tlic effect that a big battle h expected to take place shortly in the Yser district, the Germans having made extensive preparations therefor. If this be true it would seem as if the enemy's recent attack on St. Eloi was but the commencement of greater movement to supplement the attack on Verdun, which has proved such a, costly and futile effort. Foiled by the strength of the French defence, the Germans appear to be turning their attention to the British front in the hope of better success by means of a great assault. It must be remembered that the German operations at Verdun and St. Eloi were the forthcoming advance of the Allies, and forcing them to make an attack before they accumulated all their forces and equipments. So far the project has been practically barren of results, except in the lass to the enemy of over a quarter of a million effectives. Knowing that the time is rapidly approaching when an offensive on all fronts might be expected, the Germans are becoming desperate in their anxiety to evoke a counter-stroke by the Allies in order to bring about a decisive conflict in this theatre, so it is very probable that the enemy is making the extensive preparations mentioned by the Daily Mail's correspondent. We may, therefore, expect startling developments within a few days. Germany's only hope now is in delivering such a powerful attack as will break down the British defences, but there is every reason to believe that the ittempt will be no more successful than the Verdun assault, though we must be prepared for news of unprecedently severe fighting. At the rate whereby Germany has been sacrificing her K troops it is more than ever evident that her next assault will be made by wave on wave of the enemy, and that the tornado of artillery fire will be on a grander scale than any yet launched. The movement is certainly not an unexpected one, for it is the only course that, under the circumstances, the enemy could pursue. If the Allies consider, as they probably will, that It Is advisable to sit tight and not be forced to take the offensive, they will certainly play their own game, knowing that when* the right moment arrives they can and will convert their defensive tactics into offensive measures. The feverish anxiety of the Germans to deliver a vital blow on the Allies is as evident as their reasons for making such a desperate assault. It is somewhat significant that the French have been taking the offensive, as if to goad the enemy to further rashness. It is not wise to under-rate the fdrce of the expected attack, but we may confidently anticipate that it will n<it succeed in its object