WEEKLY SUMMARY

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1918, Page 6

WEEKLY SUMMARY

FROM SECRETARY OF STATE. By Telegraph—Presa Association. Wellington, May 28. The following has been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary oi State for the Colonies, describing the operations for the week ended May 23: FOUR POINTS OF INTEREST. There are four points of special interest in connection with the week's operations on the western front. The first is the continuous remarkable success of the Australians in the angle of the rivers Somme and Anere. The second, the very brilliant little operation whereby the French rectified and advanced their line between the Scherpenberg and Kemmel hills, so as to give themselves the full benefit of several minor actions in that sector Which they successfully carried out during the last few weeks. The ttird, the very marked ascendancy in the air which the Allies have established over tile enemy. The fourth, the almost complete lack of enemy initiative Their few undertakings have been confined to local counterattacks, all of which have been unsuccessful While there may be a considerable connection between the two latter points, the general impression produced is that the enemy is gathering himself together for a renewal of his offensive on a grand scale. It is now seven weeks since the Somme offensive came to a standstill and four weeks since that of •the Lys, or for the latter five weeks if tho taking of Kemmel Hill is regarded as a separate operation. This is possibly time enough for the enemy to restore his men and dumps to a sufficient standard, but it is very doubtful if he can have satisfactorily established his necessary transport arrangements. It is probable that the Royal Air Force has contributed to delay the enemy in this matter. AMERICAN ARRIVALS. The Americans are steadily arriving, tutd Mr. Baker hag announced that half a million are already in France and that the rate will be increased, but the enemy knows there must be a necessary interval before the troops now arriving from America can be put in the firing-line, a consideration which does not apply to the trained men whom he himself is constantly transferring from the eastern front. He may therefore conclude that his present superiority is in no immediate danger of being disturbed, and besides, since his next attack may be hi* last, he will not launch it until absolutely ready.

If, however, the enemy should open an attack in the immediate future, it will under the disadvantage of overhast fly made preparations and under force of other than purely military considerations. QUESTION OP RESERVES. •As regards the prospects of the campaign, it is, as has already frequently been pointed out, entirely a question of reserves. Reserves may include not only man-power, but also strength, while every yard of ground exchanged for enemy casualties may also he put to the credit of the reserve. Apart from American aid the manpower situation is more in the Allies favor than when the German offensive be,ganonMareh2l. This is due to two causes At that time the enemy waa able to concentrate a numerically greatly superior force opposite the British front, thereby leaving parts of the French front comparatively lightly held. This could have been countered either by the French at. tacking at some such part of their own 'front or by the French army correspondingly concentrating divisions to form a general reserve. For a number of reasons the latter course was adopted, but since the initiative was with the enemy, and he was on interior lines, the French could not move nor commit an equal number of divisions to'those moved up by the Germans. On this next occasion the Allies will have the same choice in the matter, but with the added advantage of unity of command.

Secondly, the enemy losses 111 the first part of the campaign have been greater than those of the Allies. The casualties he incurred in the fighting were nearly equal to his reserves in the depots. Thus, on now replacing the casualties from the depots, he will have a very small reserve left. On the other hand, the Allies' reserve is at least equal to that of the enemy, and their tactics in defence are such as to reduce their own losses to a minimum, while inflicting the maximum losses on the enemy, and again time is with them. ACTIVITY OF AIRCRAFT. The Air Ministry reports that the improved weather conditions on the western front during the past week have led to greater activity by the aircraft, an exceptional amount of work being accomplished. Approximately 18 tons of bombs have been dropped in the battle zone and in the neighborhood of Bruges, Zeebrugge, and Ostend. Nearly 137,000 rounds of small arms ammunition have been fired with excellent results at different ground targets. Over 15,000 photographs have been taken. Thte air fighting has generally bee® severe, and the hostile scouts have made persistent, but unsuccessful, efforts to deny our bombers and reconnaissance, machines access to their objectives, or, failing this, to intercept them when returning. Most notably the results of these tacticß have been a heavy increase in the great German casualties list, 148 enemy aircraft being bronght down in •ir fighting or by other means, and 39 driven down out of control. Fifty-four of our machines failed to return during the week, which is a relatively small figure when considered in the light of the number of hours flown and the amount <rf bombing, photographic, and recomutisranee work accomplished. The enemy naval bases on the Belgian coast—Zeebrugge, Ostend, and the important centre at Bruges, with the interconnecting canal system—have again been subjected to incessant attack. Hits Itave been secured on the quays, docks, and enemy flipping, and reports received state that most important material damage has been caused. The weather has allowed the resumption of long-distance operations into Germany, and the Royal Air Force has taken full advantage of the improved conditions. Raids have been carried out into Germany on five days out of seven. Important railway communications at DiedAnhofen and Thionville have been bomb-

Ed on three occasions, and the stations and sidings at Metz have been twice attacked. Raids have also been carried out on important military objectives at Saarbrucken, Cologne, and Landau, northwest of Karlsruhe. Good bursts were observed in the course of these raids, and a number of fires and explosions were caused.

All the evidence continues to point to the demoralising effect of the frequent penetration of the German frontiers, particularly in the Rhine valley, where | lively dissatisfaction is expressed with the authorities owing to the failure of anti-aircraft measures. Our activities this week brought home once again to the enemy in German territory the fact that only during periods of unfavorable weather can they hope to enjoy immunity from attacks. RATIONING. Tho Food Ministry reports that rationing has undoubtedly proved successful, lessening the consumption, despite the leakage which naturally accompanied its inauguration in some districts. Owing to the improvement of imports, the ration of butchers' meat is being raised to lib per head weekly. This increase has shown that the rationing system is elastic, and has done much to convince the public that the restrictions on consumption will be relaxed when circumstances and considerations of future safety permit. Steps are being taken to restrict bringing to market home produce and stock at present immature. The ! shortage of cheese causes considerable hardships. National kitchens are being established in increased numbers, and, where properly managed, effect a great saving of food without loss to the municipality. ZINC PURCHASES. The Board of Trade reports that the British Government has contracted to purchase from the Zinc Producers' Association (Proprietary, Ltd., of Australia, stocks of zinc concentrates existing at the end of 1917, less reserves and subject to the reasonable protection of Australian requirements, aJso the production from the beginning of 1918 to a maximum extent of 250,000 tons per annum during the war and for one year afterwards, and 300,000 tons per annum for the subsequent nine years.