The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1918. THE NEWS FROM FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1918. THE NEWS FROM FRANCE.

The news received early last evening of the British reverse on the Western front was not Very cheering. But the British have a habit of putting things in their first communiques in the worst favorable light and of leaving anything favorable to be explained subsequently. It is probably the case in this instance. At any rate, let us hope so. The cables we publish this morning show that the enemy is making a determined effort to break through the British line. He is bringing up tens of thousands of men, and hurling them on to the British, who are exacting a fearful toll. But the

Germans never count the cost when an object is to be sheer weight of numbers, and also, it would seem, by a preponderance of artillery, he has compelled tho British to give way west of St. Quentin. But the retirement was, despite the terrific pressure, conducted in good order, to a second system of defences, where the British are holding fast. At other points the British have also had to give ground, after exacting a considerable toll., Maybe, as the French newspapers point out, these attacks are only made to screen the chief purpose, which is to attack the British left, in Belgium, and endeavor to turn

the whole line, and uncover the Channel ports. We will soon know. Meantime it ia reassuring to be told that the Allies are quite ready to meet a move of this nature. Still, the attack now under way is quite the most formidable so fatmade on the Western front. The enemy has massed huge forces, not only of Germans, but of Austrians and vulgarians, who are available to be thrown into the fight when needed. The Kaiser is pres-« ent to cheer his men and watch the col- ! lapse of the Allies. But he will be dis.

appointed, as he was at Ypres in November, 1914, when the "old contemptibles" held ten times their number and put half of them out of action, and also at Verdun in February, 1916, when he expected hourly the defeat of the French, and eventually had to leave the field, thoroughly nauseated by the immense loss of his crack battalions. The Allies cannot be expected to have things their I own way with Russia out of the fighting lists. They moat be prepared for

ect-backs, however disappointing they may be, until we have a numerial preponderance, which the growing American armies alone can provide. If the enemy plans an offensive on ii limited a'ont is able to concentrate upon it the necessary guns, the front lines must bcroiuc untenable for any troops, the Germans found that out at the Soiume ana Ypies—they had to retire to new defensive positions or lie killed or taken prisoner. -Precipety the same with ourselves. We have e.vacted a tremendous price but we have had to retire. 'J he encouraging: feature is that we are holuing, Now that the enemy has shown his hand, probably the Allies will put in a coiuiler-blow elsewhere, or bring up sullicicinL additional artillery at tlw; threatened points to, at any -rate, neutralise the effects of the enemy's gunfire. The latter has brought long range

naval guns from the grand lleet that are raking the ground to a distance of 27 miles behind the British front. Surely we can do the same. Then in regard to aerial fighting, unless we have been misinformed all along, we should at least be able to hold our own, li' we can do more w? should be able to "blind'' the enemy's artillery arm. One of the most

disturbing pieces of news is that relating to tho bombardment of l'aris by German guns having a range of over 00 miles. This is scarcely credible, for -the greatest range hitherto attained has been in the neighborhood of only thirty miles. Have the Germans discovered a new propelling force! Have they sprung another artillery surprise upon us? Tf they have, it means a serious thing for the Allies, but the advantage of its possession will not determine the course of the war. It may affect it temporarily, but the Allies will soon produce an antidote, as they have so far invariably (lone in connection with all their devices for overwhelming the champions of right and justice. Further news of this new - offensive weapon, together with tho developments in tho fighting generally in ■ the West, will be awaited with interest, ' and not a little anxiety.