WEEKLY SUMMARY

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1918, Page 5

WEEKLY SUMMARY

DURATION OF THE WAR. ENEMY ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. EFFECTIVENESS OP ALLIES' AIR WORK. Wellington, Last Night. The following telegraphic review of tiie war situation during the week, ended June 2!) has been received from the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies: Baron von Kuhlmann'g declaration in the Reichstag, "When one makes a wide survey of the events one must ask, will the war, according to human calculation, last beyond the autumn and whiter or beyond next year?" caused a sensation in Germany. The Germans are no longer told that their great sacrifices on the battlefield will bring speedy peace.

Perhaps the tfliange is partly attributable to the Austrian situation. Even while Baron von Kuhlmann was speaking of "noteworthy successes" of the Austro-Hungarian armies, their shattered divisions were struggling back across the Piave. Austria is almost starving. Many Austrians are blaming Germany for their predicament. AUSTRIA AND GERMANY. Austro-Qerman negotiations seem to make no progress. The Anstrians apparently insist upon ttheir own solution of the Polish question, making this condition a precedent for future negotiations, and the Germans are unlikely to accept it. The difference is fundamental and most embarrassing to German;-. The completion of the new alliance with Austria is the keystone of the "Mittel Europa" policy. Germany's whole position will be seriously compromised if she is unable to complete this speedily. THE AUSTRIAN DEFEAT. The Austrian defeat on the Piave is attributed in Vienna partly to the refusal of the Hungarian troops to fight beeause the war in Italy is not considered a menace to Hungarian territory. The (Pan-Germans, on the other hand, argue this is treason, and renders it more necessary to increase German control in Austria-Hungary. AMERICA'S PART. Baron von Kuhlmann and other German statesmen (have little to say about the share of the United States in the war, yet they must know that 900,000 American troops are already in or on their way to France, and the number of American-built ships to be launched on 4th July will surpass all records.

Baron von KuMmann does not expect peace soon. What sort, of peace may the German people expect "beyond next year"? THE ITALIAN OPERATIONS. On the Italian front the campaign began on 15th June and reached the end of a definite phase by the 26th, the operation beirig on enemy initiative. The Italian victory may best be measured in terms of the Austrian failure. After ten days of heavy fighting the Austrians were less well placed than before. They lost some 20,000 prisoners, besides about 180,000 killed and wounded, and considerable material. In one of the most important sections the British troops contributed materially to the success, taking over 1000 prisoners and several guns. »

THE SMALT/ NATIONALITIES. The operations in the Italian theatre emphasise the unhappy situation of small nationalities forced to fight under the German yoke. It was noticeable that no German units assisted the Austrian army, except certain "requisitioning battalions," who were armed apparently only with paste brushes and labels, which they affixed to every desirable movable property, showing it had become "the property of the Imperial German Army.'' This appears to have specially annoyed the Hungarian troops on the Piave sector. There is evidence also that Czechs and Slav units on the northern front destroyed their own ammunition dumps everywhere they were able. The Czechs, Slavs, and Poles are fighting against the Germans. Slavs are enlisting in a special unit of the American army, and iP'oles in a special legion in France, while many soldiers in the American army are of German extraction and glory in the opportunity to destroy the tyranny, to avoid winch they or their ancestors were forced to emigrato to America.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT. On the main British front, though no large operations have taken place, activity has been continuous. The neverceasing work of reconstruction, training and preparation involve time and immense labor.

The Germans claim to have taken 2800 guns and over 8000 machine-guns from the Allies between 21st March and 21st June, whioh is far from true. It is officially stated tlhat the British workshops and building yards made good all the British losses within three weeks, and a large proportion of the requirements of her allies were also provided by Britain. The Italian Commander-in-Chief has specially mentioned the following units: Northumberland Fusiliers, Sherwood Foresters, the Warwicks, Oxfords, and Bucks Light Infantry. Men from the industrial, manufacturing, mining, and agricultural distriots are all fighting in the various theatres of war. Those left by national service tribunals, together with women and children, are working day and night to produce munitions and supplies for the Allied armies. In the agricultural districts British home produce has been increased by nearly 300 per cent., thus releasing shipping and imported foodstuffs for the Allies.

EFFECTIVENESS OF AERIAL WORK.

The statements of enemy prisoners show the effectiveness of the Allied air work. German infantrymen taken on 18th May said: "About eight days ago a British squadron bombed Douai. There were seven hundred casualties among our troops in town, four hundred being killed and much damage done." A letter captured the Bapaume area, dated 11th May, says: "Enemy aviators cause us much misery. Incessantly, day and night, they bombard the main roads. We are not safe anywhere."

BAD WEATHER NO BAR. The Air Ministry reports that the, SMk haa lM«a"iK>t»hte jMrit-flMjs

vied oui in France and Itaiy under weather conditions which a year or two ago would have mado flying impossible. Low clouds, high winds, and frequent heavy rains prevailed throughout Europe and the Near Jiast, yet the Royal air force, with the assistance of the Australian flying corps, directed fire upon the enemy batteries,* attacked field works and fortifications, dispersed concentrations, reconnoitred rear positions, and harassed tho enemy troops by bombing and machine-gun fire. Excellent work lias been done by Canadian pilots. Apart from coastal enterprises and special work during a raid by an independent force, over ninety tons of bombs have been dropped on military objectives behind the German lines. Nearly two thousand photographs were taken and many thousand roundg of small arms ammunition fired from a low height at ground targets. In the air fighting thirty-one enemy machines havo been brought down and eight driven down. Nineteen of our machines were missing, against thirty-hina of the enemy's.

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. Higly successful raids ahve been madi on German harbors and shipping and naval works on the Belgian coast. Five separate attacks were made upon the docks at Bruges and Osteal, three being within twenty-four hours. Upwaidf of nine tons of bombs were dropped upon docks at Le Brugeoisa, works at Thaurout, the railway junction at J&ria Alter, an aerodrome at Zeebrugge,?and sheds and railway sidings at St. Pierre Capelle.

Enemy trawlers and destroyers off Qstend and Zeebrugge -were also attacked on the night of the 23rd inst. A British independent force made four successful attacks on Metz Sablons and dropped six tons of bombs on the station. On the following day the railway sidings were again bombed, and factories and sidings at Dillingen and Saarbrucken. An enemy aeroplane was brought down in flames. All our maernes returned safely. BRITISH AVIATORS IN ITALY.

On the Italiau front British airmen took an important share in defeating the Austrian offensive. On one day ten enemy machines were brought down, eight being by British aviators.

Many reconnaissances have been carried out. Our bombing machines rendered signal service by attacking and destroying bridges and pontoons across the Piave. ON OTHER FRONTS.

British airmen have also been active on the Balkan front, successfully attacking Rupe and Razenbeo dumps, Kanatlarei aerodrome, Angista station, and Nouri farm dumps. In Palestine, enemy troops in the Domoa area have been attacked. Our machines dropped over a ton of bombs upon Amman. Direct hits were noted on the station, camps, and a party of infantry. The usual escort and submarine patrols have been carried out at' sea, with satisfactory results.

THE FOOD SITUATION. Medical reporta indicate that Lord Rhondda (food controller) made progress during the past week. The question or the increased supply of feeding stuffs is receiving serious consideration in view of the necessity of maintaining the milk supply during the coming winter and assisting in rearing calves. This will entail increased demands on tonnage. Less home-fed meat was consumed owing to the better supply of imported meat. Sufficient supplies of mutton have not been available for civilians.