The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1918. THE ALLIES' RELENTLESS PRESSURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1918. THE ALLIES' RELENTLESS PRESSURE.

The splendid series of military events which a recent cable stated "have profoundly stirred the whole of France and Britain," caused the British Premier to remark: "I feel sure this is the beginning of the end of the dominance of German militarism." If any sceptic requires these words to he justified he has only to review the operations on the war front since the third week in March of this year up to the present time, and to compare the German offensives with those of the Allies, and he will find that the only logical deduction is that which was stated by Mr. Lloyd George. The British and French armies of 1918 have proved themselves true successors, alike in blood and spirit, to those of 1914. This was strikingly demonstrated by the indomitable courage exhibited when, in spite of the superior numbers of the enemy, they held up the German thrusts, delivered with unparalleled ferocity, and, when the right moment entered upon an offensive which has produced marvellous results, and is still being pursued with a relentless vigor and determination that has daily for the last three weeks been productive of large and important captures, driving back the enemy continuously, giving him no rest, inflicting great losses, and step by step working forward to the final goal. Those who have closely followed these 'splendid series of military events" cannot have failed to note

the very striking difference .between the German and the Allies' offensives, and, like the British. ■Premier, have been convinced that the Allies' methods have proved 1 so completely fruitful of success that they become a reliable guarantee of that ultimate victory whereby the dominance of German militarism will be brought to a close. It is an object lesson that carries conviction; yet it is well worth while studying. When the Germans, after massing all their forces on the Western front, struck the first of their formidable blows, with telling effect, in the direction of Amiens on March 21 there was certainly some cause for anxiety as.to what might happen, but the Allies' reserves were brought up as speedily as possible, and by April 5 the enemy's advance was held up. The crisis had been met, and tension was for the time being relieved, for there was a three-days' breathing time hefore the nest .blow was delivered in the Lys valley, and again held up. The Germans then made the fatal mistake of allowing nearly a month to elapse before resuming the offensive, this time forming a threat against Paris, hut they were incapable of overcoming the Allies' defence, so once more they were baffled, and their progress stopped. By this time the losses they had suffered and the strenuous nature of the fighting had produced on the enemy appreciable signs of exhaustion, Avhile the Allies' reserves were now fresh and eager. The month's rest that followed enabled the Allies to perfect their plans, so that when the last of the enemy's desperate thrusts was made it was speedily countered, and then Marshal Foch turned defence into attack at Soissons, and having put his hand to the military plough there has been no turning back—nothing but progress, from day to day, and without any interval—in marked difference to the Germans' spasmodic offensives and lengthy periods of inactivity. So skilfully have the Allies' blows been delivered, and such great havoc have they caused in the enemy's ranks, that in places the Allies' task has been comparatively easy, while the Germans must find it ever increasingly difficult to obtain any degree of security during the coming winter. The outflanking tactics of the Allies have yielded good results, and will probably be continued. Not a day has passed in this drive by the Allies that has not been marked by the capture of more or loss territory, the enemy being kept constantly on the defence, and persistently driven back, and it should not be long before C'ambrai is captured. The Allies may be expected to make the best use of the time between now and the winter season. They have large reserves that can be brought into action to expedite progress if necessary, but Marshal Foch has doubtless made out his (time-table, and he is not the man to take undue risks, especially when all is going well Unless a period of bad weather should set in, and thus favor the enemy, the close of this year's operations should see the Allies well on the way to victory, especially if the new American army puts forth its strength and assists the Anglo-French to obtain a decisive victory that will pave the way for an earlier determination of the war than was thought possible two months ago. With regard to the Americans, it is only right to point out that the outstanding feature of this great battle, on which the eyes of the world were fixed, was the conduct of the American troops. The mag.nificent counter-attack in which an American army corps, on the extreme left, flung hack the Germans on the Marne after they had crossed it, and took from them 1000 prisoners, was one of the historic incidents of the whole war in its moral significance, for it set the seal upon the brilliant promise already shown, both in attack and defence, since their first appearance in the line. We have only to note what the Allies have done in the past few weeks wherefrom to judge what can be carried out during the next two months. The prospect has never been so bright with promise ,as it is to-dav.