The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1918. THIRD PHASE OF THE OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1918. THIRD PHASE OF THE OFFENSIVE.

The impressive speech made by Mr Lloyd George at Edinburgh last week contains much matter for reflection, but more that tends to engender confidence in the ultimate triumph of the cause which the Allies have at heart. The British Premier did not fail to present the war situation fairly, showing the adverse as well as the propitious circumstances. No words could more accurately describe the position than those of Mr. Lloyd George when he said: "For the Germans, as well as for us, the next few weeks will be a race between von Hindenburg and President Wilson, for the Germans are straining every nerve to reach the goal first, before American help is available." On the eve of such a titanic struggle a certain measure of anxiety would be allowable, but the British Premier's speech showed no trace of such a feeling. On the contrary, he was able to tell his audience that those who best knew the prospects felt confident of the result, and that he felt happier than he had felt since the commencement of the wan This sublime confidence is sot based merely on

optimism, but on the facts as presented by the military authorities —"those who know best." Yet the Minister labors under no delusion as to the nature of the coming struggle, nor should the people of the Empire. It is not now a question of obtaining a decisive victory, but of successfully holding the enemy in check until the Amercan armies are sufficiently powerful to enable the Allies to achieve the desired end. Much speculation has taken place as to the reasons for the delay in the offensive. It is quite possible the Germans -iqfll be waiting for Austrian troops, but "itremely probable that one of thes .it factors is the unceasing activity of the Allied airmen, who are giving the enemy no rest day or night. The commander of the French bombers considers it is not unlikely that the German aerial weakness is the cause of the delay. This is only another way of stating the same fact. The persistent air raids on enemy railway stations, depots and lines of communication are made with the distinct object of preventing the movements of troops and cutting off their supplies. It is stated that the Allied air superiority is so marked that the Germans are experiencing the greatest difficulty in completing their preparations, and that this superiority will shortly be on such a scale that the Allied aeroplanes will be able to isolate considerable portions of the enemy's armies. The French suggestion to form an aerial army, with a clearly defined plan of campaign, is one that will probably be carried out, for there is no question that such an army could be made the deciding factor in the war. It is to be hoped, therefore, that in the near future this army will be an accomplished fact. It is here that the Americans can be of the greatest seryice, by expediting the output of thousands of aeroplanes. The men are available, and so are the munitions, so that when the machines are on the spot we may expect thrilling and highly-import-ant developments. The recent gift of £13,500 for aeroplanes by the Overseas Club is of itself evidence of the value of this branch of the service. Meanwhile, during the recent lull, artillery has poured in steadily to the front area of the British zone, and the new drafts have had field training, while a large force has been transported from Britain to the West front. Another gratifying feature of the present situation is the mastery of the submarine campaign, the latest reports in this direction being most encouraging. That the coming offensive will be most intense goes without saying and its collapse may have a fai--reaohing effect on the German soldiers as weli as on the German nation. That, 'juv.ever, ;s not a factor to take into account. The war has to be fought out, and the more the German forces are weakened the less difficult will the final stages be. The confidence of Mr. Lloyd George should be that of the whole of the British Empire —complete confidence in ultimate victory.