The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. THE SUPREME WAR TEST

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. THE SUPREME WAR TEST

The impending great struggle on tlio West front bids fair to be the supreme tost of the war, 'both for the Allies and the Central Powers. For some time past there have been frequent references in the cables as to the enormous forces the Germans are concentrating in that theatre of hostilities, and more recently wd have been told of the rehearsals that are proceeding behind the German lines. The figures that have been given from various sources regarding German strength on the West front are somewhat bewildering, possibly the enemy intended purposely to mislead the Allies on this point, but it has been roughly estimated that there are <IBO or 190 enemy divisions, of which 115 are in line and the remainder in reserve. This, however, gives rather a large margin, for ten divisions want accounting for. At the of last November the French headquarters' staff estimated the Germans had 149 divisions in the West, and it is suggested that from thirty to forty fresh divisions have been withdrawn from the East to the West, but as to this it is evident conjecture enters largely into the estimate It is well known that Germany has during the last two years anticipated lier recruits by calling them up a year or two—possibly more—before their time, thus large numbers of lads have been drafted, into the German army to make good the wastage. Probably the most reasonable explanation as to the increased number of divisions is that when the reductions was made in the numbers constituting a division, in order to find new formations, the German staff was already at the end of its supply of new material, and that the more recent recruits have merely filled the gaps. As to the number of men actually brought from the East to the West front, there is no data available on which to make a reliable calculation. Seven divisions are known to have been so transferred, and there may have been more. Colonel Repington, who poses as a reliable authority, but is nevertheless as liable to err as any other sclf-coiistitutod war prophet, and has, moreover, a tendency to magnify Germany's strength, estimated in January that the enemy had 165 divisions in the West and that eventually 200 or 220 divisions would ultimately be thrown against the Anglo-French. If lus theory is of any value then the enemj. would have been obliged to reduce his armies in the East to thirty-two weak divisions wherewith to oceupy Poland and the Baltic provinces and to provide for contingencies in Russia and the Balkans. Another aspect of the question 1-: ss to how Germany will be able during the coining struggle to maintain the strength of the divisions and fill the huge gap 3 which the intense fighting is bound to create. She could not possibly make good the wastage, for she lias about reached the limit of her resources, and is preparing this coming offensive as a. desperate las.t resort in the | hope of a, chance of victory. It would seem probable that Germany's available strength on the West front this spring may reach two and 3.-half million men at the most, or 170 divisions of from twelve to fifteen thousand men, while it may be possible later on to trans* fer further divisions from the East, though it has to be remembered that Germany has proclaimed her intention of

conducting a Balkans' campaign which would, if carried out, on a sufficiently extensive scale to warrant success, need a very considerable force. Whether Austria will furnish troops for the West is ii matter of doimt, for tiie Italians should occupy all her attention. it is quite evident that Germany will have a very formidable force ready for the coming campaign, but .the Allies are quite, confident of their ability to withstand tho ofierrsiu', especially as they jlully realise it wil". be the supreme test of tiie M';, . The British will have to bear the main brunt of the figiitmg, but i every week sees a larger force uf Americans available and the latest plan for [expediting their training will prove a great factor in the struggle. It is also I satisfactory to learn that lioumania has I expressed her firm determination to adhere to tho Allies instead of making a separate peace. The Allied War Council has considered the altered situation in all its bearings, having it arranged for the Allies to treat their armies as one in order to meet the danger. By this means the whole strength of the Allied armies will be available at the point at ■which the main attack comes. There is a prospect that the coming struggle will be the greatest and most terrible conflict .in the world's 'history Every modern implement of war that has been devised for dealing out death and destruction will be utilised and there is every probability that aircraft will play a prominent part in the struggle. Semiofficial opinion at Washington does not consider that Russia's defection will aid Germany as, in the absence of a treaty, troops must be retained there. Ormany's intense eagerness to cripple the Allies 'before American aid reaches its height will doubtless lead to a renewal of the massed attacks by wave on wave ol men She will : be content to lose most of her men if she can gain her object, but in acting on the defensive the Allies will a very great advantage and the knowledge that it is the supreme test will put them on their mettle, With this tornado in *ight it is absurd to even think of diplomacy or peace terms. The sword must do its work thoroughly before it is sheathed by the advent of peace.

The war has cost New Zealand £67,000,0U0. 'Jim llawera TiiClniiciil College is making great strides In membership. Mr. Cray, director, .states that time art! :l:{ senior iiiid JiJ juniors in tlie commercial •.•lasM*, J!) leeching instruction in art .and .science, and seven each in engineering anu agriculture., a. total of 07 pupils, sliowu the popularity of tlie collego with pupils and parents. it ",s vndei stood thai. tSe s*.r*iigUi e.f vhlsl.y iolit over hotel i>aw will be considerably by an Ordcr-in-(.'nnnci!, iK'tic.: oi v.liieh will appear fcLoiily Under ihc new regulation.-, the spirit may be sold at '.i.l per cent, underproof, tlie previa" ji.v having been :!;'i jier cent. "There is a chance for everybody in New Zealand," said .Sir dospeh Ward, at the North Beach {tula on Saturday afternoon (says the Chris tcliureli Press). "There is no class distinction, ami all have equal chances. Fathers and mothers now realise that their first duty to their children i.s to give them a firstclass education, and the result is, with ■the facilities in education we now possess that every position in the country is open to the children of the- most humble parents." Intending patrons to Everybody's this evening would be well advised, lo make certain of their seats by reserving, at Collier's. This popular house !s always packed on Saturdays and with a special attraction like an Alice Brady picture for to-nig'ht there is sure to be an extra big demand for seating accommodation. In a letter received this -week from a trooper with the New Zealanders in -Palestine, the writer remarks: —"In coming up (he line one can see that the Turks must, have retreated at a great pace, as tiley left a lot of stud' behind that.would not have been left if the retreat had been less hurried than it was. There were tons of shells, and railway stock, including locomotives (these we are now using): tons of aeroplane 'bombs, and even planes in eases, ready for putting together Johnnie. Turk would like roudh to come back, but I would not give much for his chance of doing so. Oranges grow here by the million- You can ride for hours, and. then you haven't even started to get tin ough the groves. The trees are all loaded. Occasionally we go for a short'l'ide from here with a bag of oranges. We just help ourselves off the trees, and I think the fruit is doing the uien good " Mi A. N. Poison, candidate for Wellington North, referred at a meeting on Wednesday evening to the Civil Service, which, he considered, should bo placed undei the control of the Minister, for the reason that the Minister was subject to the control of the people, and the Commissioners were not. J.'he cry that the present system did away with Tammanyism was a lot of ''tommy rot,' because he had been behind the scenes for a long time and knew what he was talking about If a man who was unknown to the. Ministei called to inquire about a position he wanted ho would simply be told that the matter would be referred to the Commissioners and he would have to take his chance. If a friend of the Minister went along lie would be told the same thing, but meantime the Minister would get on the telephone and have a word with the Commissioner. Many a time, while employed as a private secretary lie (the speaker) had 'been deputed to do the ringing up. Mr. Clement Wrag'ge It a:: .issued the folioAMijr forecast- "Atmocnim-ie conditions arc very perturMTfcjthm lower latital.'s than t.'s: of HL^Lrcially over all that region rHß|Hfiangarci, North Cape, tlitP KefTOdecs, 'Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. Close watch should be kept, on the barometer, and if it falls half a tenth m half-an-hour rougli weather may be expected. The disastrous storms in Queensland, coupled with the floods, are sufficient indication of the general typo of the weather, and iif various parts of the eastern half of Australia there will probably be a renewal of such before April 1 Hence every precaution should be taken.- As stated in January, the corfit of Western Australia, north from Shark Bay may be affected by winds of the hurricane [type. I am confirmed in the opinion that the southern edges of tropical disturbances will pass further south than usual, and then 'pemmVbrao' may even extend to the Day of Plenty and Ilawkes Bay, with under-currents from between S.E. and EN-E and N .shifting westerly, and blowing strong, and with very considerable rainfall before two months have elapsed. The conditions are mainly clue, as before stated, to abnormal solar influence." ! A very interesting ceremony was performed at- the native settlement at .'Ngutuwera, near Waitotara, the other afternoon, when the monument erected by the Njjarura. tribe to the memory of its late chief w-as unveiled. The service was conducted by the Rev. Robert Hadilon, in the presence of a. large gathering of Maoris and Europeans. From a flagstaff close by the Aotea native Hag was i ilying ball' mast in memory of the great pioneer* of the race who left flawaiki thousands of years ago- on their adventurous voyage over the unknown seas. , Next, the Union Jack was hoisted, while the assembly sang the National Anthem, ' followed closely by the flag of the Maori . contingent—which seemed to stir the , Maoris very deeply. Last of all the New Zealand ensign went up. The Jiev Hadilon paid a very high tribute to the ! memory of the departed chief, whom he described as a. friend to Maori and Pa- - keha, a. lather to his tribe and sterling 'honest man in all his transactions In j ihanlking the Pakeha, section of the gathering for being present, the speaker i said that throughout the whole'of his , ministry it had been his ambition 'o see the (.wo races more closely united, and, slowly perhaps, but surely, his ambi- j tion was being realised. Tlicy had foug'iit side by side, died ami were buried side by side on the Empire's battlefields; and a.s time rolled on iie thought 1 that without a doubt the two races ■' woiiifi be fused into one. 1 MELBOURNE, LTD.. FOR RELIABLE 1 STOCKINGS. 1 Ladies, have you ever had the misfor- 1 tune to buy a pair of stockings and find ( them go a nasty grey or purple color the ' first time they were washed? Of course, ' you have, as we know that to be a com- 1 mon experience of hundreds of women, ' who neglected to buy their hosiery from 1 us Melbourne all-wool cashmere hose 1 will not lose their color either in wear or t in laundry. This is the unasked-fortes- 1 timony of thousands of Taranaki and Wanganui ladies, not counting the scores i of customers from outside these districts, s Iu addition to quality, the prices are lower—quality for. quality—than any- ' thing offered to-day in New Zealand. We quote: Ladies' all-wool plain cashmere hose, 2/3 pair; ribbed ditto 2/11; i plain cashmere Llama finish 3/6; pure i Llama, 3/11 and 4/0; Jason lisle thread'c With cashmere feet and tops, 2/11 pair. >