The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1918. THE WAR SITUATION.

Recent developments in the various theatres of the war indicate that the Allies are striving to make the best use of the short time that is now available before the approach of the winter season renders operations on a large scale impracticable, unless very special weather conditions prevail. The recent Franco-British-American offensives on the West front have demonstrated tliat the Allies have obtained the initiative, and are able to make the enemy resort to defensive measures of a desperate nature to prevent serious disaster. Already the enemy has suffered severe defeats, losing very heavily in dead, wounded, prisoners, guns and stores. Every' blow that is delivered from now onward will add to the enemy's exhaustion and loss of morale, and, though his available strength is still formidable, it, goes without j sayiug that the fighting material at his disposal has been largely de- 1 nuded of seasoned, troops and replaced by youths whom it is unreasonable to expect will have either the nerve or stamina to endure the terrible onslaughts that have decimated the flower of the Teutonic armies. Measured by the map, the Allies do not appear to have gained very much ground in their recent offensives, especially, when it is considered how large is the area that still remains to be cleared of the invaders, but that is not the right way to measure their success. In the first place, there should be a feeling of intense relief that the grave crisis which they had to face when Russia's defection enabled Jtlie Central Powers to oppose the Allies on the West front with a decided superiority of man-power, has not only been safely weathered, but,, thanks to America's magnificent efforts, the tables have been turncd. Hie Germans gambled .against time and lost heavily, but still are not yet bankrupt. Under these circumstances it is with much satisfaction we learn that.tha Allw'

offensive is still progressing, Gen-! eral Humbert having delivered a powerful attack ( in the Lassigny district. The part the air service is taking in this western conflict, and the great successes achieved, have left no room for doubt as to the Allies having the command in the air, and their operations are potent factors in the defeats that are being inflicted on the stubborn 'foe. Now is the time for our forces to put forth all their driving power, so as to deliver a succession of telling blows on the retreating enemy, and the larger the co-operating air force the greater will be the hammering. General Poeh is, of course, aware of the po'siiion and all its possibilities!,, so that we can confidently trust to his proved strategical skill and tactical ability .\ The eastern theatre presents problems that are not devoid of difficulty in solving. There would seem to be special need for taking prompt, adequate and energetic measures to prevent the Germans from creating a Russian army to fight against the Allies, or even to hinder them in the work of endeavoring to rehabilitate Russia. It has to be remembered that the mass of the Russian peasants are so intensely ignorant, and so amenable to coercion, that they may fall an easy prey to German methods, unless the Allies intervene. The Czechoslovaks appear to be in a perilous position by lack of equipment and munitions, so that Japan should be pressed to lose no time in throwing into action in Northern Russia all available forces, and that the French and British should .also speedily 1 reinforce the contingents landed at Murman and Archangel. It is imperative that every effort be at once made to defeat German efforts in Russia, for there is no doubt that once the Russians realise that the German menace is being successfully coped with, they will readily join the Allies in ridding the country of the common enemy,' and in restoring order. On the Italian front the news is very encouraging, in view of an Italian offensive in the Alps being imminent, for it is believed that a successful thrust in this region .will endanger the enemy's Trentino positions. It might well do more than that, for it'would seem that it will not take much morp hammering to put the Austrians out of action. After all, the West front is the key of the position, and ceaseless pursuit of the Germans in that theatre will have an appreciable effect on the outlook on all the other fronts.