The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1917. THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1917. THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

There can be no doubt now that the fighting of the past two weeks is the beginning of the big offensive on the Western front by which the Allies hope to drive the enemy out of the conquered territories and finally dispose of him. Ihe Allies have commenced well. Wherever the Germans have made a stand—at Bapauine, at Peronno, on the Oise, pn the Aitlette, on the Scarpe and at Lens—they have had to give way fo the French or the British. Under the relentless pressure they have had to evacuate strong lines and formidable fortresses, and retire to other lines which no doubt are equally formidable. They are retreating out of military necessity, for Sir Win, Robertson has told us that no army retires unless it can help it. At the same time, it would be a mistake to conclude that the Germans are defeated or demoralised. They are immensely strong yet, and have not given up hope of final victory. The iindsh Chief of Staff says numerically they are stronger than ever, their forces numbering one million more than they did a year ago. [t will have come as a surprise to many, but such critics as Hilaire Belloe hava prepared us for the statement. Writing in February Mr Belloe said there was no reason why the enemy should not form a considerable striking force tt. come into action before the end of the winter, which he could do by anticipating his future revenue in men. "Ho had in Ins depots last December about 000,000 men. He might expect before the middle or end of next summer to get another 400,000 from the last of class 1918 called up, and' from hospital releases. It is clear that if he chooses to leave himself exhausted by drafts before some date in August he can employ the human material in the immediate formation of new divisions, even up to so high a number as 25 divisions (possibly) as a maximum." Mr. Edmund Dane, writing about the same time, said the new forces this year were believed to aggregate 075,000 men, obtained by tho results of the universal levy in Germany for service, the labor deportations in Belgium and recruiting in Poland. It.has generally been believed in Allied countries that recruiting in Poland has been a failure, but that may have' to be added to ouir long list of mistakes and miscalculations about the enemy. But no doubt the increase in the German forces for the most part can be accounted for by the use of Belgian and French anot German civilian labor to take the place of men I It to fight. Under the master hands of ' §indenburg and Ludendorff, Germany has drjanjyi kg, roourcet _g£ mea Md

material for this spring campaign. She realises that it is "now or never" with her, and she means to endeavor to defeat the Allies if it is at all possible. That is a fact we will do well to renieinbe,. At the same time, we know that the j German armies are not or the same phy-1 sieal standard nor possess the same morale as the troops that came sweeping through Belgium and France in August of 10)4.' On the other hand, however, the confidence of the Allies in final victory is a growing quantity. Success, induces confidence, and the Anglo-French armies have met with nothing else since the Somme. They have established a superiority in men and guns, and it is their superiority that is really forcing the Gerlians to more contracted and more defensive lines. The battles on tho Somme were not meant to force a decision, for which the Allies were unready. They •wore intended to create a diversion and relieve the pressure on Verdun, and at (he same time to kill as many Germans us possible. In those objeots the Allies were successful. The present attack is a supreme effort to break the power of Germany. The fight is continuous from the Belgian coast to Switzerland. Everywhere the Allies are pressing hard and fighting with great spirit. The Germans me stubbornly contesting every yard, for they realise that unless they can break the Allies now they can never again hope to, for no doubt Hindenburg has called op every available man. The Allies, with America to draw upon, can make up the losses, which will be stupendous, but Germany cannot. That she has been able to do so up to now and have a bigger force in the field than over is one of tlio surprises of the war. It is a wonderful feat, but it will not save her from the crushing defeat that most surely awaits her.

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL BOARD. The retirement of Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer from the chairmanship of the Taranaki Hospital Board, after ten years' service, is a distinct loss to the town and district. Mr. Bellringer has been no figurehead of tho institution, but an active and capable chairman, who, by the exercise of tact and judgment, has had not a little to do with the success of, the hospital and the harmonious working of the staff. Under his direction the new building was planned, built and equipped, with the result that we have now an institution that is a credit to the. province, and worthy of its object. 'This work bus taken up a considerable amount of his time—more, perhaps, than tho public have a right to expect from a busy business man, and irtr. Bellringer can retire feeling that he has done his duty and done it well. At the best of times, there is plenty of work for a chairman to do with 8. growing institution like the hospital, and it will not be easy to find another member who can spare the requisite time and possessing the same administrative ability, to fill the position. A chairman can make or mar a hospital, one of the most difficult v\ all concerns to administer. The pity is that there is no '■understudy" ready, residing in the town, to take up tho reins, and it loots as though the Board will have to select one of its country members, more than one of whom hj»« the necessary qualifications. For the chairman to reside away from the town 13 a disadvantage, but in these times of the telephone and motor-car it should not bo a fatal one. The public, we feel sure, is conscious pf, and grateful for, tho valuable, conscientious services rendered by Mr. Bellringer, who retires with a record he has reason to feel proud of, and one which certainly will be hard to equal.