WEEKLY SUMMARY

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1918, Page 5

WEEKLY SUMMARY

THE WAR OPERATIONS. MINOR MH4TARY EVENTS. INTERNAL SITUATION IN ENEMY COUNTRIES. Wellington, July 8. The following telegraphic review of the general war situation for the week ending; July 6 has been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State Tor the Colonies:— There have been only minor operations on all the Allied fronts in the West. The Italians conducted local minor offensives on the northern front and between branches of the lower Piave. The operations in the north consisted of the capture of certain important peaks, previously of great importance to the enemy in attacking on the River Piave. The Italian lias been established on the line on the eastern branch, thus shortening and strengthening the front The process of clearing fte Austrian# from between the two branches of the river still successfully proceeds, yielding a considerable number of prisoners. THE AUSTRIAN PUBLIC'S CONCERN. Serious effects have been produced on the Austrian and Hungarian troops by even the limited casualty list permitted by the Austrian Government. The Hungarian Premier untruthfully reduced the correct figure by nearly half, yet even so the indignation produced is considerable, and really in both the Italian theatres the true figure is being daily land largely increased- The numerous prisoners examined include officers, non-coms., officers and men of the Austrian and Hungarian divisions. AH .agree that the conditions in the front line are very (bad, and, although officers and men are not actually starving, they are always hungry. The war-weariness among the troops is considered to he caused by the poor food, and under-feeding. Prisoners also agree that the accounts given of the internal situation are not exaggerated. There is a great dearth everywhere, and disturbances are often engineered by disaffected soldiers returning from captivity in Russia, who, after months of leave do not wish to reenter the army. To make matters worse, this year's crop is had. No food' has b«n gent from Ukraine, and the poorer people have practically no subsistence. Provisions are obtainable in towns in the smallest quantities at exorbitant prices, so none but the rich are able to make ends meet. Secret hp&rding slightly eases country life, but even here prices are prohibitive, and a prisoner's father recently paid 680 kronen for a smalll Pig- " . The population earnestly desire peace, but say that the war is continued for the benefit of Germany and the wealthy classes. Hungarian troops complain of ill-treatment at the hands of the Aus-trian-Hungarian officers. The men desire only to go home. Germany is frankly hated, and the general feeling, as a whole, is that the war is waged for the sake of the German Emperor. ON THE FRENCH FRONT. On the French front, in two minor operations, the French re-took the high ground between Coenorts and St. Pierre L'Aiglc, and French-American troops retook Hill 204, in the. Chateau Thierry sector. Both operations deprive the enemy of strong points, and give the Allies a position whence a distant view is obtainable which will make any enemy attempt to advance along those two roads towards Paris more difficult. On the British front, on the morning qf Friday, June 28, a most successful operation was carried out on the front between three and four miles eastward of the forest of Nieppe. We advanced our line about 1600 yards, taking over 400 prisoners, two field guns, a number of machine-guns, and trench mortars. The operations were carried out by men mostly from Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the northern counties. Some of the southern English units co-operated. Our casualties were very slight, and the line here was greatly strengthened. Simultaneously, the Australian troop 3 .took advantage of the confusion tb capture certain hostile posts west of Moreis, taking 43 prisoners, and six ma-chine-guns. On the morning of July 4, Australian troops, assisted by American units, carried out a very-well-executed minor operation south of the Somme, in the same sector where they already had such re-, markable local success. They advanced their line approximately one mile and a-half, capturing the village of Hamel and Varie Wood, taking about 1500 prisoners, and numbers of machine-guns and anti-tank gun 3 In addition to the prisoners" the German losses were heavy, while the attack was so well organised that our own losses were exceptionally slight. THE WOMEN'S PART. ' Three thousand women marched through London, in various uniforms, representing the hundreds of 'thousands now doing war work in England. Further significance to their patriotic enthusiasm lies in the fact that not only have they thus released large numbers of men for the fighting forces, hut they are also taking a very large share in tie heavy work, providing the Allied armies, as well as their own, with many of their requirements. : LORD RBDMXDA'S DEATH. The Food Ministry reports that Lord Rhondda's death was received with expressions of deep sorrow from every part of Great Britain. With unfailing trust in our patriotism, he based his policy upon equality of sacrifice, and was rewarded not only by success but by the entire confidence of the people. The King sent a warm message of sympathy to Lady Rjhondda, expressing his own and the Queen's condolence and the sense of the national loss shared by the whole country, which realised in every home the benefits of Lord ißhondda's work. Other messages expressive of regret, admiration, and gratitude have been sent by the Premier and by. Mr. Clynes, of the Food Ministry. THE AIR WORK. The principal features of the air wffr during the week were notable British raids into Germany and intense fighting <n the StftUfc Mwisa at thi Western

front in the form of telling blows upon big industrial in the Rhine provinces, upon docks, harbors, and naval ' works in Belgium, and upon the encmyV communications, dumps, billets, and rest camps behind the lines in France. Sis raids were made during the week upon aerodromes and hutments at Boulay, four upon the railway triangle at Mete Ablon, four upon Mannheim, three upon Saarbrucken and Tliionville, two upon Treves and Brescaty. RAIDS OiN GERMAN TOWNS, In addition, formidable raids W6M mads upon Karthans, Hagenau, Ziverforucken, Rudwigsdaften, Kemilly, Offenburg, and Karlsruhe. At Orenburg many direct hits were observed on en-' gine sheds and barracks. At Karlsruhe two direct hits were registered on engine works, and a large explosion was caused in tha Metallurgique works at Mannheim. Despite the bad weather, sis bursts were observed on i&ießßadteche munition worksStatements by prisoners confirm <the widespread and intensifying anxiety prevailing throughout Germany ficpm these raid* On the enemy's right consfcasrt itnd thoroughly successful attacks w&» made on the docks, submarine bases and naval work 3 in Zeebrugge, Bruges, and Ostend. Many hits were observed *fc Zeebrugge, the Ghistelle sheds, and docks at Bruges and Vahillebrugge, dumps, etc. Thirty tons of bombs w&e dropped. On the land front propel al« most no important points were left unbombed. Over 216 tons of bombs jrere dropped. Hundreds of batteries nfsra engaged, thousands of photographs taken, and a vast number of rounds of small arms ammunition were (fired; Here alone 113 enemy aeroplanes and sir balloons were destroyed, of which 57 were downed. Altogether, 195 enemy machine* were downed by the British'. Only 52 of our own machines are reported missing. Valuable reconnaissance .and photographic work was carried 6ut in Italy. Seven enemy machines were downed, and hut one of our machines is trussing. Aerial activity also continues similar good results on the Balkan front, tn Palestine, and at sea. KHHLMANBI'B SPEECH. Darkness still surrounds the German situation regarding KuUmann'a speech, whioh reveals a deep subterranean cleavage in German opinions; so it is doubtful if KuMmann will not be forced to resign. . AUSTRO-GERMAN RELATIONS. S Negotiations between Austria and Germany proceed without progress. '£ notable symptom is the outspoken attitude of Hungary, where there are indications of a stiffening attitude towards Germany. The Neue Freie Preise of June reports an interview with the German ' Vice-Chancellor von Payer on the Central European union. He suggests that the communications between the Central Powers are so intimate that all idea of separation should, in~fact, be excluded, "no matter whether an agreement concluded for all time or for sci many years." Leading Hungarian politicians criticise these, and admit they have no ideal,-that they would infringe the sovereignty ot Hungary. They are prepared to make economic arrangements with Germany, hut only on terms profitable tot Hungary. Count Tiaza declared'.iri the.Himgariari Parliament ok June 10:—-"The ,ViceChancellor will have.to-revise his ideas if he seriously desires ait alliance iwith' us." ' ' < The Hungarian Premier,. Dr. Werkerle, significantly observed that the paper's pronouncement was not made officially, but only in an interview, i * The change in the shows the Bulgarians' discontent with {their German-Turkish allies, denying her, full share of the spoils. Malinoy ; represents an intransigent policy as Regards the whole Dobrndja and Western Thrace, hut though the change in Ministry shows weariness of the rulera and the war, there is so indication bf>& lev pro-German policy. EVENTS IN RUSSIA. " Recently current events in Russia and Siberia, together with the English Laboi Party Conference and the appearance of Kerensky, all tend to shtnr a stiffening |n the universal enthusiasm in favor otafe helping real Russia to free herself from 9 t&e German peril and the internal dis-V order, so as to achieve true freedom with I the active sympathy of the allied force* ■ of democracy. 1