The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1918. THE GRAVITY OF THE PROSPECT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1918. THE GRAVITY OF THE PROSPECT.

"We should be guilty of a great and fatal error if we underestimated the gravity of the prospect." Such arc the weighty and impressive words of Mr. Lloyd George appearing in yesterday's cablegrams. In his candid review of the war situation the British Premier has taken a bold but timely step, the effect of which should be to arouse the whole Empire to do its utmost at this supreme crisis In its affairs. The disclosures are certainly such as to make a. deep impression in all parts of the world, and in placing the true state of the position on record Mr. Lloyd George has displayed a courage worthy of the great nation he so ably represents. It is the truth we want, and though it may cause anxiety, it is better to know the worst than to live in a fool's paradise, as so many people are in respect of the war. So much has been published concerning the strength of the German forces that an impression has been created that their numerical superioritywas greatly in excess of those of the Allies, but Mr. "Lloyd George authoritatively states that notwithstanding the release of divisions from the East, when | the battle began the combatant strength of the German army in the West was not quite equal to the total strength of the Allies. The enemy, however, has the great advantage of selecting the points to be attacked and concentrating thereon the bulk of his forces, while the Allies, ifot knowing where the blows are to fall, have to defend a very wide front sufficiently strongly to meet a thrust at any point. It was fortunate that General Sir A Wilson was able to accurately forecast the locality at which the main attempt to break through would be made and to act accordingly. Mr. Lloyd George did not shirk the unpleasant task of explaining how nearly the enemy succeeded, and hi» generous praise of the generals, of-

fleers aiul men (or t'heir Indomitable courage and tenacity was certainly -well merited. "Once move/' In: proclaimed, with justifiable pride, "the coo! pluck ol the British soldier, who refuses to acknowledge defeat, lias saved kurope. Is it to be wondered, then, that such heroic deeds inspire conlidencc in the future? He admits, without reservation, that the enemy gained a great initial success, but emphasises the fact that the main objective failed, and that is the next best thing to a British victory. There should be a feeling of considerable relief at the announcement that every step was taken by the British Cabinet to hurry up reinforcements, also that the French reserves had arrived and loyally assisted the British to momentarily establish the position, and be ready to meet another and possibly a greater attack than the first. In stating that the enemy was much too near Amiens for comfort or security, the British Premier put the menace rather mildly, for the capture of Amiens means a perilous move on Paris. Mow that the British and French have been reinforced so largely they should be better prepared to meet the next blow, and thougji the captured artillery cannot be replaced, it is reassuring to know there is a substantial reserve of guns and ammunition available both in Britain and France. The feat of transporting such an unprecedented number of men across the Channel shows the effective nature of Eritain's organisation, especially in view of submarine activities. On the whole, tiiough the position is one of gravity it is also one in which we may rely on the Allied forces to cope with successfully, and this is borne out by the statement of Mr. Lloyd George that he is confident our armies are quite ready for the next encounter.