WEEKLY SUMMARY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1918, Page 6

WEEKLY SUMMARY

USUAL WEEKLY REPORT. EFFECT OF THE ALLIES' A'DVAXOEWellington, August 2G. Following is the official summary from the Ministry of Information, under date London, August 23: Some people make invidious comparisons as to the extent of the German offensive of March 21 compared with the Anglo-French attack on the Soinmo front of August 8. This shows a serious misunderstanding. The reason why the Germans werf- able to advance rnoi'6 than 30 miles in one week was because they had overwhelming numbers, amounting to three to one, with very large reserves available to continue the advance after the initial assault had brokeu our lines. Our attack on August 8 was on a much smaller scale, and the Allied superiority on the actual front was not nearly equal to that of the Germans on March 21, while the available reserves were not superior to those which the enemy could resist with. Despite these disadvantages, the Allies' forces on August 8 advanced nearly half the distance of the Germans on March 21 on a frontage of much less than half that covered by the German attack , and accomplished it despite strong German reserves and with fewer casualties during the whole operation than the number of German prisoners taken, wlierea3 the German casualties on March 31 were exceedingly heavy. We now have little to learn, therefore, in tactical methods from the enemy, and he was again completely surprised both by the attack of the Tenth French Army between the Oise and the AL?ne/'and by that of the Third British Army south of Arras, which speaks volumes for the present tacticil method and efficiency of the staff work. It is still too early to foretell what effect the advance between the Aisne and the Oise will have on the situation, but it evidently seriously threatens the enemy positions north of the Aisne, and, 'if continued, will outflank the entire enemy line on the Vesle, beside threatening the line west of the Oise. The total number of prisoners taken in the three days (August 18 to 20) was more than 10.000. GERMAN RETIREMENT. North of the Somme, the enemy continues gradually retiring from the Serre salient, and our troops have now adI vanccd to practically the Albert-Arras railway. This position threatens the right flank of the enemy line on the Artcre and the important Thiepval Ridge, which is of great strength. This re-cently-shown desire of the enemy to withdraw from salients and straighten his front may forbode a more extended withdrawal than that of last year" to the Hindenburg line- There is no evidence, though, of this, hut the heavy German losses and the present serious shortage of men make such a retirement not improbable. THE ITALIAN SITUATION. Nothing has happened in Italy, but it is worthy of note that the Austrian losses on the British front from June 15 to August I*s are estimated at 20,200, whereas the British casualties were only 2*14. ACHIEVEMENT OF AIR FORCES.

Air fighting was less intense this week. There was a temporary concentration of large German air forces in the Amiens sector, operating at a considerable height, but notwithstanding this there was no slackening of the activities of the British airmen, and heavy toll of German machines was taken at relatively slight cost Successful bombing operations were carried out in Flanders, Belgium, r.nd over Germany. There was a continuous series of raids on Zeebrugge, Bruges, Ostend. Middelkirke, Westende, and the coastal area. Over 32 tqns of bombs were dropped, and many direct hits obtained, resulting in fires, which were confirmed by photographs. At Varisenarea aerodrome six machines were fired and one hangar demolished. During the air fighting here 13 enemy machines wero destroyed and 11 driven down; four British machines "were reported missing. Th« R.A-F. Independent Force successfully carried out bombing raids 'into Germany, attacking stations and sidings at Thionville. Offenburg, Parrcbourg, and Mennheim. enemy aerodromes at B-.uilay, Frihdorf, JSnhl. Morhange, and blast furnaces at Volklingin. During heavy fighting four enemy machines were destrored and two driven down. Three British machines failed to return. On the British sector of the Western front British airmen destroyed, during the week, 10(1 enemy machines, while 38 were driven down. Forty-four British machines were reported missing. An immense amount of photographic and reconnaissance and counter-battery work was carried out. No sensational achievements were reported from the Italian. Balkan, and Palestine fronts, but British airmen were busy through tho week dropping a considerable weight, of bombs, destroying five enemy machines and driving down eight. ( \ THE FOOD QUESTION.

Mr. Hoover, before going hack to America, expressed s&tisfactioi: with the results of the conference of Allied Hood Controllers:—"The great transportation problem within the next year is to move Hifticicnt American tioops to Europe to gne an overwhelming strength against; any forces the Gerrv.ans may he able to brinp to bear- In order to accomplish this, economy of consumption is imperative in Allied countries. On the other hand, danger of privation 13 now passed. In the United States we need to exercise continued rigid economy in consumption, so thai we may meet the increased demands from Europe and to enable us to carry over from this more abundant harvest a year's stock of foodstuffs to form a positive insurance against possible climatic eventualities next harvest" Most excellent weather encourages the hope of the fulfilment of the Allied decision to maintain the distribution of the cereal ration. Enforced reliance upon home supplies will mean a further reduction in the meat ration, while the increased cost will necessitate an increase in price. The problem of providing additional feeding stuffs continues to be urgent. 'Luckily, supplies of North American bacon will prevent any real privation. _ /' TOS APPOINTMENT IN GERMANY. The military reverses have produced great disappointment in German political circles. Some newspapers point out how they coinside w>*' - " 1 appointment of Tlerr von Hint" Kireign Minister, on which tha Rcirhf.tng was not consulted, tat the rawelibsial fast of tta ftfrmw

press say that it is merely a case of the devil being sick and wanting to turn monk. POLAND AND RUSSIA, i The Polish question, which has for ft long time hung up German policy, was recently renoVfed to be near solutionAustria wanted a union of Rtipsian an! Austrian Poland as part of AustriaHungary, while Germany was anxious to keep the triple division of Poland, so that German Poland should not be the only unredeemed territory. The suggested compromise now to the fore is that the Archduke Karl Stephen be made King of Poland, in close connection with Germany, with a territory which might include parts r,f Prussia where there are big landed estates owned by Poles, though the population is Russian, but this kingdom would contain none of the present Austrian or German Poland; moreover, such an artificial new Poland must rely on Germany for protection against the universal Russian indignation. This compromise would give German policy almost all it wants, but it is still uncertain whether Austria will acquiesce. ANTI-GERMANISM IN ROSSTA. Russia more and more realises the humiliation of the Brest-Litovsk treaty, and the strong anti-German feeling strengthens. The German Embassy is reported to have fled from Moscow, protected by German soldiers disguised in Russian uniforms. It founJ Petrograd ill the hands of bitterly hostile Social licvolutionaries, and, being unable ,to travel to Pskov, was compelled to go via Helsingfors and Reval. The unexpected arrival of British troops at Baku gives a fresh revelation of British resource and adds a large""factor to the many Eastern problems which Germany and Turkey must solve between them, none the more easily since each is on the worst terms with the other and both are on bad terms with Bulgaria. COAL RATIONING. Great Britain's rigid rationing of coal for domestic consumption and non-essential industries, gives yet another instansce of the sacrifice to which she cheerfully suibmits in order to meet t'ie heavy demands of the military needs of her Allies. The French Prime Minister and Marshal Foch have just paid a noble tribute to the work of British coal-miners, urging them to yet more strenuous efforts since coal is as essen- j tial to victory jm men and munitions.