The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1917. THE WAR THEATRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1917. THE WAR THEATRES.

Recent cable news from the various, war fronts has been of a most stimulating nature, and though Russia must inevitably take some little time to regain her stride, the process seems to bo well in hand. On the west front there lias been no lack of encouraging reports. That the fighting has been strenuous and at times desperate is only to foe expected, but though the Germans are on the defensive and are being relentlessly pressed back, there can be no two opinions about the severity of the struggle in which the Anglo-BPrench are proving their superiority most convincingly. The two outstanding features of the present operations, apart from the dash and gallantry of the Allied forces, aro to be found in the pronounced success of the armored tanks and tho splendid work of | the aviators. Both these modern instruj ments of warfare have far exceeded all anticipations. The grim moving fortresses, as the tanks have 'been called, appear to strike terror into tho hearts of the enemy, causing them cither to bolt or to surrender. It is, however, the marvellous work of tho (frying squadrons that quickens and holds our admiration. These intrepid aviators have now a far greater scope of action than formerly. Theyf arc so longer content Ito Ibe lookers on.,at the grim tragedy of mr, but have 'become actual fighters, attacking artillery, machine gunners and infantry, besides harassing the reserves behind the enemy's lines. The addition of « thousand more aeroplanes on the west riant Twould speedily disorganise the Cjpramnß and render a decisive defeat possible. We have been expecting i&te 'Crated States to-come forward with a large supply of aeroplanes, which 'wboU certainly be of the utmost service at this stage of the war. The details of the battle in Flanders show how fierce the fighting for tho high ground to the cast of Ypres has teen. Mr. Gibbs describes the ridge sector as a door which the Germans most keep shut, and assuredly they aTe waking eaery .effort to prevent the British from bursting through. Geographically the ridge is just the low water-parting, between the "Yier system and tho Lys system. Between the source of the Haenebeek on the western slope, ai«d the source of the Bentolbook on the eastern slope—one fc'.iiojj the Yeer amkths other tho I^s—-

there is a narrow saddle, scarcely half a -mile across. Behvw-1 the saddle and ■the Menin road tin. . ~;ge broadens out, the slopes to the east past Gheluvelt being very gradual. It is the steeper face that the British have been storming, and although the crest nowhere reaches two hundred feet, the fact that the enemy held the higher ground gave him a manifest advantage. On the front from Polygon Wood to St. Julien the British are working uphill. North and northeast of St. Julien the country is almost

Hat. The difficulties of attack must he very great, but if the Germans are determined to close this important door and keep it shut the Allies are more determined to force it open and to gain 'the strategical advantages therefrom. It is a trial of strength, and the enemy must go to the wall. Apparently, the sector between the main road and the Roulers Tailway must tie the scene of a colossal Concentration of men and guns. Of the result we are justified in having every confidence in the Allies. That a new offensive has taken place at Verdun is somewhat surprising, but ■there need be no fear of any gain accruing to the enemy from this move. The situation on the west front may be taken to be developing favorably, for the official reports emphasise the fact that in each phase of the offensive the Allies have gained their objectives and are holding the positions they have won. It is slow work, but it is. sure, and the losses inflicted on tho enemy are making great inroads into his lighting strength, which is rapidly waning. If we turn to the Italian front the latest news is calculated to encourage optimism. For some time past there has been a dearth of news from that quarter, but with dramatic suddenness comes the report of a brilliant Italian offensive on the Isonzo, which has broken the Austrian resistance and struck terror into the enemy. These meteoric flashes of Italian activity appear to bewilder the Austrians, who are unable to discover when and where the next -blow will fall upon them, and when the Italians make a forward move it is to some effective end that it is pushed. The courageous fight which the Roumanian!, aro maintaining cannot fail to evoke our ardent admiration. Their position is,

without doubt, very grave, but not without confidence of ultimate triumph. Much depends on the Russians, and we must hope for the best. A review of tho campaigns would not be complete without reference to the Belgian operations on the French left. For nearly three years most of the Belgian'front has been under water as the result of opening the dikes. On one side of the - water aro the Belgian trenches and on the other side the German. On this intervening expanse of "water the Belgians are performing marvellous feats of bravery, principally at night time. It all helps, and though there aro no concentrated engagements the guerilla warfare by bombs and machine-guns has its uses. Meanwhile peace talk is assuming larger proportions, but of that we need take hut little notice, as it is s0 evidently a German manoeuvre to gain time. America has appreciably lightened the Allies' financial troubles and before long should he able to render material aid in arriving at the final vwtorjr on which alone peace is possible. *