The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1918. A SURVEY OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1918. A SURVEY OF THE WAR.

In. view of the lull which has followed I the last German offensive on the West front, and of the delay which has ensued in a resumption of the offensive, it may be worth while to take a survey of the war position so as to gain an insight into the existing facts of the war and the Allies' position in the conflict. Russia has for some time past been regarded as "down and out" as a factor in the struggle, but in the light of recent events the Germans'apparently triumphant advance into Russian territory is causing a reaction, indicating that their troubles in that region are piling up, while the Slav race is arousing a national sentiment that bids fair to hasten the day of reckoning. It is considered that when Napoleon inarched through Lithuania in 1812 he was not marching to more certain discomforture and disaster than are the Germans to-day. Although the Allies are deprived of Russia's help in the war, and, as a consequence, a large number of German divisions have been sent from the Far East to the West front, the increasing hostility to German methods has so aroused the Russians and Slavs that it would seem to be abso. lutely imperative on the Germans to increase rather than decrease their forces in Russia. We have now had an opportunity of estimating the effect of Germany's increased numerical strength on the West front as the result of Rusaiar's collapse, and the conclusion derived from the estimate is entirely satisfactory. | The numbers were there, but the troops.

which came from tiie Eastern theatre proved to bo mostly inferior and exhausted men, hence the terrible losses suffered by the cuemy. Though the Teutons had the advantage in numbers, the balance of individual efficiency and corporate spirit remains fixedly with the Allies, whose lines are being steadily reinforced from the flower of American manhood. If we take the whole Allied front into consideration, from the English Channel to the Adriatic, it is clearly evident that the Central Ppwers can never hope to equal, even in numbers, the forces opposed to them. It is, therefore, not unreasonable to claim that the British Empire, the United States, France, and Italy will, even before their full strength is developed, be able to hold the Boche, no matter how furiousi. and violently he may dash himself against the Western barrier. The Allies, however, have a far more important task than merely holding the enemy; it is their intention to win the war, and in order to achieve a final victory as speedily as possible they need the utmost man power that can be put into the field. To act on the defensive at present is essential to future success; it is a step on the only sure road to victory—the victory for which they are already preparing—and when they are ready, the hour of doom for Prussian militarism will strike and its vibrations will be felt the world over. Britain is, as Dr. Smart wisely remarked ''a long distance opponent," a nation that in spite of vicissitudes, wins through in the end. The Allies are determined to win, win they can, and win they must. Their position at Salonica may appear doubtful, but it is far more secure than it seems. Moreover, whatever the risk may be—if an}- —it is absolutely necessary for the defence of the new regime in Greece, as well as for the security of our communications with Egypt and the East, which is not consistent with the conversion of Greek harbors into submarine bases. In Mesopotamia and Palestine the progress of events is entirely satisfactory from a British point of view. There are many who fail to sufficiently appreciate the full meaning of the British military operations in these two theatres. Both are of great importance and their effect on the British fortunes of war has been incalculable. Not only has British prestige. been firmly established throughout th» entire Orient, but the chance of Germany restoring Turkish rule in Mesopotamia, Arabia and Palestine is practically nil. Moreover, the Turk is, Indeed, finished in this war, and the Tur-ko-German menace to Egypt is no longer practical politics. While not one inch of the British Empire is under the heel of the Hun, the German Colonial Empire of over a million square miles has ceased to exist. With the crushing of the submarine menace and the replenishment of shipping the outlook will be decidedly encouraging. It is the shipbuilders who hold the key of the fortunes—in fact the destiny of the world —and it is for them to see the valor and sacrifice of the Allied nations, as well as the cause of civilisation, shall not be compromised by any failure or deficiency which human foresight and enterprise can avoid. Britain passed through a .worse crisis in 1811, but emerged triumphant, so that we may well ask: What chance has Kaiser Wilhelm of dominating the world a' beating down all his enemies to-day as compared with that of Napoleon i--1811? The Allies can and -will outlast their enemies in every field of endur- '> ance. Germany may boast of and rejoice over the defeat of a disarmed and enfeebled enemy, hut if Britain despaired not in the days of Napoleon she may well be confident and indomitable now. She has put her hands to the plough, and there is no turning back till the task is accomplished.