COURSE OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1918, Page 4

COURSE OF THE WAR.

. WiEEKLY REVIEW. CWMAN TDHTA. ; Ky Telegraph.— Press Association. m, . „ Kington, Last Night. J. he following telegraphic review of the Avar situation has (been Teceivcd by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the week ending June IS:— ■li le ® ennan idea of a world peace i's illustrated by her recent manoeuvres in Russia, Roumania, and Finland. A similar process is talcing place in the Caucasus, where attempts are being mtgo to establish an independent. Caucasian rapulblic, in which Chris' tiang and Mohammedans alike will share and whore the people are threatened Ibv the advance of the Tmikish-Geriman forces, which continued during the process of the peace negotiations. An independent Georgian <repuMic.has been proclaimed. Germany's oibject is to completely separate that all-inaportant district from Russia and bring it com--'pletely into her economic and militarysystem. iProibaibly, with this dbjeet, Batum, which previously was promised to Turtey, has been assigned the new Georgian State, giving Gertaany control of the Black Sea oilfields similar to the - oilfields in Roumania, and a base Jor.'the, •penetration of. Central, Asia, * WMjmo^^iNiaiUsrißiA. Austrian conditions cantinue-'to grow l worse. According to the Weser Zeitang,, the Vienna burgomaster recently declared: "The faults of our Governments of the last centuries bitterly avenge themselves. High treason and boundless ingratitude .are now rampant, and the Government proves weak and unsteady. The supreme duty-of-the German parties is to show a united front against Slas treachery." Austrian weakness enaj>les Germany to reduce Austria to the position of a vassal State. The new treaty fetters Austria for a generation. It proposes complete unification of the two armies; co-ordination of mobilisation, the munitioning of transport, food supply, and merging the economic resources. The Ocrman policy domination is increasingly proved to be a menace to the freedom of all countries. The United .States is daily taking an increased part in the conflict. The American war spirit has only been accentuated by the sinking of ships off the American coast, the tonnage of which will soon be replaced many times over. ■THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE. The enemy offensive in the Aisne salient was definitely arrested on the evening of Monday, June 3. On the two following days the enemy attempts to advance further were Severely punished, •and .the Frenchjregained certain tactical •points. The Crown Prince was obliged either to abandon the operation to bring up considerable reserves from the other parts. of the front or start a complementary offensive elsewhere. The latter course was evidently decided on. At dawn on Sunday, June 9, the enemy opened an attack on the MondidierNoyon front with fifteen divisions, three olf which were from Prince Rupprecht's reserves. The Allied higher command was fully prepared. Some ground was gained by the first shock to a maximum depth of four miles in the centre, while the flank held firm. The enemy losses were exceedingly heavy, and on the second day with proportionately even. greater losses. The enemy gained only another two miles in the centre, while the flanks still held. The Oarlepont salient Ibeing endangered, the Frencl) withdrew their line at that point, fighting a clever rearguard action and dealing severely with the enemy, who attempted pursuit along the Noyon-Com-ipeigne Road. The French left counterattacked simultaneously and regained a considerable strip of ground. Pierce fitting continues. It is again evident that the enemy can achieve no decision here without heavy calls on the reserve divisions from other .parts of the front, THE MAIN ENEMY RESERVE, 'Hie main enemy reserve on Prince Rupprecht's front, between the Somme and the sea, is still untouched. Ho-w does tie enemy intend to use this reserve? The enemy certainly is determined to force a decision before the end l of 1918. The original main objective was the destruction of the Allied armies (by strategical penetration in the Allied centre at Amiens while drawing reserves outwards to two flanks. The operations off March, April, and May wero- undoubtedly all part of this plan. Germany has drawn heavily from every source, and is unalble to again re-. construct her armies to -their 'present' ''strength. THE ALLIES WANT EVERY MAN. The Allies must inaike every possible man avaiMileHo maintain tha.armies to their full -strength. This applies equally to the Dominions, whose contingents arcs among our first troops. Thus re-made .the Allied armies, with the full-sized, fresh. - American Army added,. will end : ■the'war with decisive victory, i EDSdRffiBWHON <XF ifIODD. The-Ministry -of Food reports thfct the International Scientific Commission, after meeting in Paris and Rome, is now sitting in (London. The Commission has already reached valuable The minimum has been computed for the Allied countries. The Commission recommended an uniform average millingextraction be adapted as far as possible throughout tihe Allied countries. Men should always take preference over animals in the allocation of food'lby Gov--ernments. The registration of tea dealers throughout the United Kingdom has been completed on the basis of two ounces for -each member of a customer's family. Milk prices have been increasedfourpence per gallon. Except-as regards fruit the-Home har--vest<prospects are good- The fruit crap is expected to be seriously short, and if' tonnage is availalble importation to supply the deficiency will be essential. Tlx# Self-denial exercised in Canada, and the United States has resulted substantial increases in cereals and other imports. Rationing gives general satisfaction and the evid'ence shows no increased consumption of Jlbread or-otiher lunrationed artides. AEROAiL OPERATIONS. The, Air Ministry Toports considerable serial during fie - past week

on the Western front, espsiallj* in tlio battle zone, fine weather favoring our aerial operations. Mist somewhat hampered reconnaissance work. Nevertheless, an immense number of aerial photographs were taken during tlio close, and distant reconnaissances and bombing -operations into Germany were carried out with vigor. Seventeen raids were ■Undertaken, of which five were on Metz •and five on Diedenhofen, C'olblenz was also raided during the weak. Approximately, 20 tons of bomlba were dropped on German territory. Our aircraft co-operated with the •trench aviation in bombing the enemy railway junctions, roads, and concentration points. In the air fighting, 03 Germnn machines were brought down and 33 driven down out oif control. Twenty of our aeroplanes failed to return. Aerodromes on the Balkan front and hostile ammunition ami supply dumps in the Struma VaJley were ejected to frequent heavy raids. In Palestine hostile troops in,tha trenches and campa were atfcu&ad by our aeroplanes with bombs and; mMhinegnn Are. The Amman railway station, aerodroinei, and bivouacs were th 6 elective of a very successful mid 'ofl tie 14tli insfc. OonsideraWe > caused to troops, jroJßng aMk, and hangars. | In Italy the wgatJier doftditioM Wei somewhat hampered flying operkCoaa, but a considerable amomnt. of Tvtafc2uu| be en accomplished. "