GREAT GERMAN SACRIFICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1918, Page 4

GREAT GERMAN SACRIFICES.

OVER 200,000. CASUALTIES. XO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. London, March 24. The Australians and Xcw Zcaianders have not yet participated in the titanic "struggle between Cambrai and St. Quent.in, but, together with every other fighting unit on the rest of the front, they are ready to move at any moment into the thick of the conflict if necessary. Saturday's news indicates that the reckless attacks continue, but the pliroiug of the German evening communique is significant: "The first stage of tl.o great battle has ended." Critics are divided in their opinions as to whether the enemy will persist in his attacks at this point. They believe the German casualties are already over 200,000, but only further stupendous sacrifices will enable the Germans to widen the gap in our forward system. Nothing has yet happened to cause real anxiety. If the enemy continues his losses on the same scale for any length of time it will bring the war much nearer its end. Reuters' correspondent nt headquarters, writing on Saturday evening, reports that captured copies of tho German plan of offensive show that the enemy objectives were: First day, an average > penetration of the whole front of eight kilometres (five miles); second day, 2 kilometres; third day, 20 kilometres; beyond which the scheme does not appear" to have been carried. The success attained hitherto falls much short of these objectives. 1 An attempt to cross the Somme by means of four bridges was last night deand frustrated with great loss by the artillery. All the roads on the German advance are blocked with columns of troops, guns and transport, on which we are making deadly play. Hough estimates of the casualties inflicted vary between SO and 50 per cent, of all the' divisions hitherto identified. T give the figures for what they may be worth. Paris, March 24. The Temps states that Paris is oveia hundred kilometres from the nearest point of the frcut, and no sign of panic exists. M. Cle.menceau, lias expressed satisfaction at the results thus far, French experts predict another Verdun, with the same lack of success for the Germans within * much, shorter periled.