The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

When speaking at Heretaunga on Saturday, Sir Joseph Ward stated that he was in a position to say it Ws expected that within the next three days the combined troops of British, France and their allies, under the united system of control and direction, would commence in earneßt lighting against the enemy—counter-at-tacking, and he took this move as evidence that the necessary reinforcements were available for the offensive, of which he had been advised that morning. The announcement is one that caused no surprise, as no secret has been made of the impending Anglo-French offensive. Recent news from the Western front indicated that the heavy German attacks along the south-western front of the Armentiercs salient had been repulsed, and apparently the enemy had failed to make serious progress anywhere. Along the line of the ridges our strongly reinforced front has successfully beaten off attacks, and it was only east of Ypres, where our line was voluntarily shortened to do away with , a dangerous salient, that any German progress was made. Looking at tlie enemy progress to date, though it makes, an appreciable display on a large scale' map, it would seem that the tactical ad-! vantages are or 'i of all proportion to tlie efforts made 'ill the losses suffered. It is considered r. it, tactically, the real German task In the Araentivs front has only just commenced, the thrust] having bean m«4e across mfrj. but

they Jiave now reached the rising ground, and are face to face with positions of immense natural strength, held by strong Allied forces. To yet over these ridges Will entail eoloasal losses, which would exhaust the (lennau strength. Under these circumstances it is hardly likely {/hut llic offensive in this region will he continued, for the Allies can give ground here for a considerable time yet, taking a terrible toll oil the enemy. But the Germans can try to draw away pur reserves from the Ami.ens sector, which they are desperately anxious to weaken, in order to facilitate their design to break through at this important point, but to carry out this design they must necessarily send many of their divisions to the north which might be employed on the Somme front, their only advantage being contingent on their ability to be first in getting the troops back again. It is hardly likely that tliey would be allowed to steal a march of this kind on the Allies, especially as the French have I been strongly reinforced at Amiens, and are shelling the enemy's communications, j Apparently the strategy of the Allies lias already been worked out, and if they' give ground anywhere it will be in the north. Communication with the French, via the Amiens sector, must be maintained at all cost. Any ground yielded will exact a heavy price, and it is merely a question of whether the Germans will consider a profitless advance is worth the losses and demoralisation that will enbuc, and if the German reserves are about axliausted by the time the Arras—Cambrai line is reached the Allies will have had the best of the struggle. On the western arm of the great salient the bulk of the French reserves are massed, bo that it is quite possible that General von Ludendorff may attempt to steal a march on the Allies by delivering a blow jn the southern arm. That is a real danger, but it would take time, for it is a long way from Amiens to the Champagne. It would seem, therefore, that in view of the position as a whole, it is a most opportune time for an Allied offensive to be launched with good prospects of success. It may be taken for granted that General Focli's plans have been thoroughly discussed, and' that he will strike at the spot which will be of most service to the Allies, and inflict the greatest losses on the enemy. It would be a great stroke of generalship to strike the enemy heavily. The holding up of the advance has already affected the morale of the German troops, and a strong Allied offensive following on the "hold up" must still further weaken the enemy's confidence. The turn of the tide appears to bo setting in, and we can only hope that whatever success the Allies gain it will be followed up strenuously, giving the enemy no rest on any of the sectors. Apparently the Allies hare the* men and the guns for the work, and the opportunity has arrived for turning defence into attack on an effective scale. Developments will, be eagerly awaited.