WEEKLY SUMMARY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1918, Page 5

WEEKLY SUMMARY

THE WAR SITUATION. THE GERMAN RETIREMENT, THREATENING THE HINDENBURG LINE, Wellington, Last Night. The following telegraphic review of the general war situation for the week ended August 30 has been received by the Acting Prime Minister from the British Ministry of Information: On the British front the advance has been continued along the whole line from the Somme to the Scarpe. On the left flank north of the Scarpe Gavrelles and have been captured. South of the Scarpe we have gained Cherisy and Fontaine les Croiselles. These places have never yet been in British hands. Our advance here has carried us two miles east of the furthest line ever reached in 1917. The most important progress was made by the French between Roye and the Oise. Bapaumo has fallen to the British, and Noyon to the French. It seems evident that the enemy intends retiring to a shorter line to obtain a better defensive position and economise troops. Probably lie will retire to the Hindenburg line, but will endeavor to postpone this course until the weather renders active operations impracticable. He will probably make a stand west of the Hindenburg line. Events will show whether he will be allowed to retire gradually and according to plan. A SERIOUS THREAT. The "British advance on either side of the Scarpe is alreayd a Serious threat to this line. The enemy cannot allow us to advance much further without endangering his gradual retirement. This explains determined resistance on this part of the front. The British advance, therefore, is highly important, though the ultimate effect is not yet known. The enemy resistance is very unequal: Some of the divisions exhibited their old determination, while others surrendered freely. It is necessary to guard against exaggerated expectations of a German collapse. Nevertheless the lighting during the past month shows notable'deterioration of the German morale. There is increasing indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience of orders. The estimate of the German dead since the beginning of the war is largely conjectural, but the figure is certainly well over two million. BIG HAUL OF PRISONERS. , Between August 21 and ,26 the British captured 21,000 prisoners. Our total losses only, slightly exceed this figure, The total captured by the British since August 8 exceed 47,000, and the guns captured are over 500. The Allied captures since .July 18 exceed a hundred thousand, with probably nearly 2000 guns. The olficially-inspired German press still explains away the Allied offensive. Dr. Solf's recent speech indicates the German Government's changed temper. Dr. Solf asserted in 1914 that the struggle with England was for spoils to the yictor, which must be no light ones. His /'tone is now more conciliatory. He rjev pudiates any intention of retaining Belgium, and pays lip homage to the league of nations. He discovers apparently that international law is a burning question for humanity. THE POLISH QUESTION. At the recent meeting of emperors no final Polish agreement was reached. Each hopes to'obtain Polish support, but agrees to permit the choice to the Poles. Austria offers Austria and Russian Poland to Germany on an extended frontier, at the expense of Russia and Lithuania. The results of these negotiations as published in Germany show that the proposals are not accepted by the Austrians. Count von Burian advocates the incorporation of Poland with Galicia as part of the Hapsburg monarchy, German democrats object to this multiplication of the thrones dependent on the Holiensiollern nod,as likely to cause future complications, due to the unsatisfied aspirations of the democracies concerned. 1 The Lord Mayor of London's visit to Italy lias had a beneficial effect upon the relations between the two countries. Great friendliness towards Great Britain Avas manifested in his reception. Returning from the front on Monday, M. Clemenceau issued a hopeful and inspiring message'tb the presidents of the departmental councils. Profound regret was expressed by the Foreign Secretary on the retirement of Mr. Page. The leading English journals pay handsome tributes! to the ex-Am-basaador's work. August 28 was the anniversary of Roumanian entry into the war. Despite Dr. Solf's assertion that Roumania's happiness would have been attained by neutrality, the Roumanians are hopeful, and regard the war as the natural sequel of i their national development, and are confident of ultimate Allied victory. AERLAL RAIDS. The past week has been notable for, the large number of raids by the British on Belgium and the Rhine provinces. Air fighting of considerable intensity has taken place on the western front. British airmen took a prominent and successful: part in the recent fighting in France, ! besides an immense number of photographic reconnaissances and bombing raids and contact partol work. They rendered invaluable assistance throughout the battle by harassing the retreating enemy from the air, silencing impeding batteries, and attacking isolated centres of resistance from a low height with machine guns; also in supplying ammunition by air to advanced British units. British airmen also attacked the important railway junctions of Douai, Valenciennes, Marcoing, Cambrai and Somain, causing much damage and delay. Over 200 tons of bombs were dropped on the western front. Ninetyfive enemy machines were destroyed and 39 downed during the week. Thirty-four British machines are reported missing. There lias been ceaseless British air activity in the northern coastal region and the Bruges docks. Our men raided nine times with good results. Destructive fires were started among the dock buildings. Successful raids were also made on important military objectives at Zeebrugge, Ostend, Middelkerke, Westende, Mariakerke,. Marianaltere, St. Pierre Cappelle, Zeebrugge-Bruges Canal, Oostacker and Ghistelle. ■ Tho R.A.F. independent force carried out thirty separate raids into German territory, attacking an enemy aerodrome at Boulay, the railway triangle at Metz Sablon chemical factories, Mannheim aerodrome, Buhl raliway junction, Treves station, Frankfort barracks and station, Colegiu jHftlj*,

drome, Folpersweiler station, bourg, etc. Extensive damage r Sheds and hangars were fired at weiler, tires and explosions w«*e at Saarabc, two tons of dropped in a single raid at Man3ssipJffiM the explosions occasioning extensive at a poison gas factory. The 'frttwflSffiJlJl the second Mannheim raid was from the low height of 200 <&ety-l|||H British airmen narrowly avoiding sion with the factory chimneys.! ~ JShH the British machines 6afely re'turneiljM despite the heavy anti-aircraft flrei* 'vlaM British airmen have also been AcjbmlH throughout the week in the can and eastern theatres, dropping mi||H bombs and firing many thousands rounds of machine-gun With good effect. Nine enemy I P'|Mgnß were destroyed and one downed, British machines are reported'missing.' -ffl/j