The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1918. THE OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1918. THE OUTLOOK.

The present situation in regard to the war is pregnant with possibilities. This time last year we were all living in hopes that the simultaneous offensive to be conducted on all fronts would result before the end of the year in the crushing defeat of the enemy. In March came the revolution in Russia, and it was soon realised that the aeries of attacks on the various fronts could not be carried out. The trouble in Russia was followed by the military collapse of that country, which since has been a source of embui.nssment and certainly ho help to the Allies. The general offensive was held up, and the British ibegan their offensive by the battle of Arras, capturing Vimy Ridge, a strategical position of grea't strength and value. The French joined in the offensive by an attack on the sector between Soissons and Rheims, one of the strongest positions of the German line. The French were held up on the Ohemin des Dames. The Germans, indeed, counterattacked in exceptional force, endeavoring to force France into admitting defeat and seeking peace terms. General Nivelle, of Verdun fame, who had succeeded Marshal Joffre, was retired, and, at a secret session of the French Chamber of* Deputies, it was decided that they had not sufficient reserves to enable them to carry ont a successful offensive on a large scale. They decided to adopt a defensive role, carrying out local attacks, until the arrival of the American Army. This forced Field Marshal Haig to alter his plans. He transferred the 'bulk of his forces from the Somme to Flanders, and to attack in a way as to make the enemy relax his grip in Northern France and Belgium. An encircling movement was begun north and south. Lille was an important objective, it being ine aerve centre of the lines of communication ot the German army in Northern France and Belgium. This involved a great loss of time. To shift an army, with its huge impedimenta, is a gigantic undertaking, even in France, supplied so well as it is now with military roads and railways., And time was the essence of the contract. The capture of Messines on June 7 marked the beginning of the northern encircling .movement on Lille, and it was followed at the end of July by an attack on the ridges overlooking Ypres. The attack was not a complete success, the British being held up by the Germans' new system of "pill-boxes Just when fine weather was wanted, the rain came down persistently throughout August, usually a dry month. Heavy rain in August had not been known for a generation. This again checked the British plans. A means, too, had to be fpund for dealing with the Germans' new system of attack. On the 20th September the British resumed the offensive and the attack was successful. A solution for the "pill box" problem had been found, and, this, repeated blows fell on the German system of defence, almost invariably with success, until the British held all the high ground

and were in a position to strike as they did at the Somme as soon as weather conditions allowed. The British are now keeping the Germans busy, and, notwithstanding all the "skite" indulged in by the Germans as to their coming offensive, they know quite well that the British hold the trump cards in Belgium and Northern France, and can, when they are ready, strike a terrific blow that may send them reeling back. The French, too, are in a strong position to take the offensive, but they have not big reserves, and must be relieved of a considerable portion of the line, This the Americans are doing We arc told 'by cable that seventy thousand American troops are being despatched each month to France. In six months, assuming that the rate is not accelerated, about half a million men should be transferred to France, plus what were sent before the end of 1917, most of whom, consisting as they do of the regular army and National Guard, should be ready now to take their places in the trenches. We are informed that America has already taken over a distinct sector, whilst the British have extended their line This will provide relief for the French, enabling them to strengthen their reserves for the crucial fighting to come in the spring and summer, by. which time American power should be materially felt. Mr. N. D. Baker, the American Minister for War, stated that a million and a half men would be sent across the ocean by the end of the present year, which means that America intends to considerably increase the monthly drafts. The Germans must take the American forces into serious account, Their presence will do a great deal to influence the general situation in favor of the Allies. Italy, it would seem, has fully recovered from the disaster that befel Iter a few months ago, and is now conducting a vigorous offensive that ao far has been attended with encouraging success. The Anglo-French have no doubt stiffened the Italians, and the possibility of the Italians recovering their lost territory before the end of this year's fighting season is not remote. There will be no more isolated attacks by the Italians, whose movements are now being co-ordinated with those of the forces in France and Belgium. j})ie line now runs from Belgium to the Adriatic, and tho enemy will bo given no respite when the time comes for the grand general attack, which we all hope will prove decisive. There is a possibility that the military operations of the enemy countries will be affected by the internal industrial disorders, but, as the English papers warn the public, the German strikers may be nothing else but "clever camouflage," designed to incite revolt and to spread pacificism in British industrial districts. That some sections of labor in Britain can bo fooled by fluch tactics is shown by Mr. Ramsay Macdonald'a recent statements about a "democratic peace" and that an industrial crisis is threatened. This is an ever present danger to the success of the. Allied arms. We need have no fear but that the latter, if backed up wholeheartedly and completely by the workers at Home, will achieve their purpose, either this year or next, but there is reason to be doubtful of the attitude of labor, In the past for the most part it has been absolutely loyal, but there is no denying that there are sinister influences at work to "Bolshevik" the country. If true to themselves the champions of democracy, liberty and justice will triumph; iif they are untrue Germanism and all the hideous practise.; and principles it stands for may yet carry the day and tyrannise the world.