The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1918. THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1918. THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

Does the concentration of German troops and artillery on the West front mean that a supreme effort is to be made to defeat the Anglo-French Forces? Is it a sign of an offensive or a precaution against an Allied attack? These are questions which are in tlie minds of many people, including the Allied leaders. There are also other questions which ar ■ equally perplexing. Is the display of enemy preparations a blind to ueceh the Allies as to Germany's real intention? elsewhere —Salonika or possib! Italy? Probably curiosity is equally as keen as to why, in view of Germany's preparations having been prcctic.i'W finished for some time, no forward move has been made during the last few weeks, only ''lively artillerying" taking place. The German high command are not likely to divulge their plans, whatever they may be. With the network of railways at their service it is an easy matter for the Germans to move largo numbers of troops in several directions at considerable speed, so that' a concentration at one point is no indication that an offensive will be made there. It must also be noted that the enemy has lost a very large number of his seasoned effective forces and that there is a very large proportion of youths in the firing line. The German staff know that an offensive on a largo scale would be extremely costly iu man power, and though they take no more account of sacrificing men "'■ sheep, if an object is to be gained, they ire alive to the fact that the temtior •• the German people is not what it. was, and tiiat heavy losses will most probably demoralise both the peo»le and the army. In this connection it is as well to bear in mind the strenuous! effort* that, have, and are still, being made to patch up some sort of pc>.co, that will

■'>"«w Germany breathing ii, ne for plxr,3rils" to nnrr y "Hi her world d-minction I'lt'gianime; nor must jf ],,. [o r ,>o| (~„ that the submarine campaign is still"!-..!,,,! "I'M by some of the Teutonic leaders <>' hring Britain to her knees. Tllo K „ s . sihii situation need not lie token i,,to Mvorni, exeept that it will necessitate a considerable German foiv, l )( , in , : , 1( ,.' tamed there as an army of occmaition for the Russians, as a mCdon have ,„'.< eulwrihcd to the German-made peace, and at any moment ll,ey mnv ;,„■„ „ l)oll ' and rend the invaders. All these matters morn or l cgs Doal . „ pon ( : !(I ,. ni . ui rc . (i(m on the West front. After all the main pent for consideration is whether the Herman army can sustain a big offensive. Mr Gibbs, the war correspondent, thinks they eannoi, while he is sure thai if the offensive is launched (no Allies will bready for it, Recent cablegrams report the sueeess of both British and French raids, hut these are no test of what Mould happen if operations 01. a large scale took place, nor do these raids bring the expected his offensive any nearer. The fact, that the British have'extended tfeeir front from St. Quentin as far south as La Fere, indicates there is not much danger threatening in that sector at present, but in view of the latest arrangements for pooling resources, the Allies should be able to meet enemy attacks at any" one or at several points. This was decidedly a wise step, especially h view of the Allies' superiority in aircraft, whereby they are able to bo kept well informed of enemy movements. Assvnng the big offensive is to materialise it is interesting to note that the present estimate of tho (ierinan,'strength is IGO disisions, while Col. Kepington forecasts thai the number of divisions will nlfimately reach 200. or forty more than Germany ever had on tho West front, a force that will allow of very large numbers of resiives to be brought into action when needed, huge barracks having been constricted at various places in Belgium and near the German frontier. As to where the enemy may attack, authorities greatly differ. Mr. Frank Simonds consiuus that the Germans will endeavor to crush the French by some colossal on- \ eloping or turning movement, bason upon the idea of piercing the French lines at two points, widely separated, like the Champagne plain and the Lorraine front before St. Mihicl or Nancy, and then isolating and enveloping the troops and positions between the two points at which the break through takes place, but ], e ; s confident the Allies can hold thcii positions. A double success in the Champagne and at St. Mihiel would, it is considered, compel the French to retire from the Mouse and break the whole wall of natural defences from Verdun southward, enabling the Germans to cut the railways leading from Paris to the casiorn frontier at Chalons and Bar-le-Due. t(jus endangering the line as far as Switzerland. The pooling of the Allies' forcts should upset any sucii project. Meanwhile there is ample room for speculation as to what is possible, but very little data as what is probable. The eyes of the Allied armies (the airmen) '!'■; keeping a close and constant watch and their raids are capable of tireaKlng up movements. The fact that the Allies are prepared should bring confidence to the timid. The latest news indicates that the Germans are on the move on the British front, but it does not at all follow that they intend making a great offensive there. Developments will be awaited with the keenest interest.