GERMAN MISTAKES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1918, Page 5

GERMAN MISTAKES.

FOCH'S GENIUS PBEVAILTNCI. GENERAL MAURICE'S REVIEW OF THE SITUATION. London, Aug. 28. General Maurice, in a review of tlie military situation after a visit to the front, states that Amiens must have fallen after the enemy's attack on Villers-Bretonneux on April 24 if tne Germans had pushed on. Fortunately, General lUwlmson, who realised that the enemy must no); he given time to dig in, counter-attacked with a small force, mainly Australians, and the Germans were driven east of Villers-Bretonneux. Equally fortunately the enemy made a mistake in embarking on the Flanders offensive, which diverted forces which, if used on the Amiens front, would almost certainly have resulted in the separation of the Allied forces. Ilindenburg and Ludendorff made exactly the mistake Jj'oltke made in 1014 —forces were frittered away on side issues. We are now witnessing the consequences. It took too long to shape the P.iieimn offensive; the American forces grew and we were allowed time to recover. The turn of the tide dates from General Gouraud's repulse of the '« , Prince's Champagne attack, where ni the best divisions, carefullr g and trained, were smashed. / . i h'oe.h took the chance offerei , ; , . fir-"' masterpieces of ;<? - < ' J. Th? German policy of - •,». -it. or in troops has enfeebled the A corps d'elite was forr '■{ expense of the whole an "\iave captured numerous order-, -.luiied by Ludendorff, adverting in .strong language to the weakening discipline and the troops' slackness. The rigid Prussian discipline is not standing the strain and prisoners are taken more easily than ever. Parts of the German array are fighting slaekly. This is shown by the state ol their trench defences. Thev have been content with a single front trench without support lines and communication trenches. This indicates great slackness or scarcity of labor. Commanders are moving the reserves about in a manner betraying nervousness in the machine. One does not wish to convey the impression that the German armies went within measurable distance of collapse. They arc still well fed and equipped and formidable. We have not vet the superiority of force necessary to crush them, but if we play our cards properly the German decline will become a collapse.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE GERMANS MASSING. NEW ZEALANDERS ENCIRCLING BAPAUME. New York, Aug. 28. General Mangin's troops have crossed the Ailette river. Rain is delaying the British advance. The New Zealanders form a half moon around Bapaume. The Germans are bringing up heavy reinforcements. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, Aug. 28. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing this morning, says: The Germans are massing on the Ba-paume-Guedeeourt-Guillemont, line, but remain conspicuously weak in guns, having lost so many and withdrawn others far to the rear.

The Germans are putting in bandsmen, sanitary units, and road menders to reinforce the fighters. An amazing jumble of units has been swept up from wide distances to stem the tide. We have captured an immense quantity of new equipment, and stores at Miraumont yielded vast quantities of engineering supplies, whilst in many places we have retaken whole ammunition dumps abandoned during our March retreat. These have proved of inestimable service to the swiftly advancing gunners, as well as relieving the transport branch of one of its heaviest tasks. It is quite understandable why the Germans are resisting eastward of Arras, as Allied success here will constitute a serious strategical menace.—Reuter.

THE RECAPTURED GROUND. ALBERT A SHATTERED WRECK. London, Aug. 2S. Mr. Gilmour, who is visiting the recaptured ground, says that the graves of Britishers who fell in the previous battles are found largely intact, except where a shell burst has disturbed them. The town of Albert is now a shattered wreck, ajid great chunks of masonry are thrown up from the foundations of the church. The magnificent church entrance has gone, together with the part of the front on which stood the famous statue of the Virgin and child. Unless the Hermans stole the statue, flic Virgin must be buried under mountains of debris. The building is entirely roofless except for a single stone gable over the aitai. Houses sinached by British artilleiy fire have blocked the Anere canal, wliicii flows through Albert, and created a lake on the low ground norlhward of the town, out of which trees stand nnerrly. A captured German diary, clearlv written since August P-. savs: 'Ourmoial is nr n|, tv well done in by 1 lie awful artiller'v fire. There is no food and nothing to drink. Aeroplanes bomb us at close quarters, and Ihe losses are heavy. The latest papers have arrived, from wlneli we have learned the seriousness of the situation."— -.\us. N.Z. Cable As-oe. London. Auir. 2S. The Pniled Press correspondent rer,nr(s the.i there are further :•!-»'-= '<'■>[ llu l Herman voinforotMiioms purtU-uiarly cortliwiird nf B»nn.ii,no. are (.'ominff from Priiioo Rnppvpflit's rp*orveK.--An-. S.Z. Cable A°soc. London, Auc. 'S. A Belgian communique reports: After a short artillerv action we attacked last, evening on n front of three Kil'»ncties north and south of the l..mgcmaiv|< railway We penetrated the enemy positions, despite stubborn resistance and a counter-attack, and readied and maintained all our objectives.—Aus. N.Z. ■9-"- Aqjion <md prater.