STATE OF TRENCH WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 September 1918, Page 5

STATE OF TRENCH WAR.

On Half of British Front. Received Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 7. Mr. Phillips states that more than half of the new British front has now settled down to a state akin to trench warfare, but we are still pushing the German Second Army behind tho .... Quentin Canal. The battle is really over. Wo are simply exploiting our successes where the Germans have no strong defences. The enemy has still to cross a track of devastated country from eight to thirteen miles deep before, he 'reached the Hindenburg trenches held on March 21. Received Sept. R, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Sept. 7. Mr. James, a. correspondent on the American front, states that captured orders show that the German Army is being organised on a basis number of 1 machine gun to even- S soldiers. The German High Command has planned to increase the production.

GERMAN LINE MUST FALL,

Between Lille and Verdun. Received Sept. S, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Sept. 7. Frank H. Simonds, writing in The New York Times, says: The present German retreat will continue to the. Belgian frontier. It is impossible for the enemy to make a permanent stand before Lille— Valenciennes—MaHbege—Mozieres—Verdun line is reached. By forcing the Drocourt—Queant line the British ensured the fall of Douai and Cambrai, with the downfall of which the safety of the German line between Lille and Verdun will be gone. It is by no means certain that the Germans will be able to hold the line from Lille to the Belgian coast till the end of the present campaign.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

AMERICAN HOSPITAL ATTACKED. BY GERMAN AIRMEN. Received Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 7. German airmen dropped eighteen bombs on a Franco-American hospital twenty miles behind the linos. There were several direct hits, but no casualties. The hospital is a stone building, the Red Cross being distinctly outlines on the adjacent ground. There was nothing else of military value in the village. The Huns, flying low, circled the buildings for twenty minutes, when the raid commenced. French and American woundeds, some barely able to walk, picked up the badlv wounded and carried them to the cellars. —Aus. and X.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE GERMAN CAMPAIGN

ELABORATE PLANS FAIL. NEW ZEALAND OFFICER'S VIEW. her >,- The situation on the West front towards the close of the German offensive 19 discussed by an intelligence ofßcer on the New Zealand Headquarters Stall' in franco, writing on June 25, to an Auckland resident. The writer says:—f'l liavu now an opportunity of commenting, within the limits of. military seerets, on our operations of the past few weeks, and give yon some idea of the situation so as to reassure you a little. We have captured some most interesting diaries and documents which prove that the enemy had to launch his offensive in the summer in order to try to force peace on the world at his own terms and before the summer was over; end he 'believed he could do it. One diary, which passed through my hands, contained very full notes by an officer of the way in which all plans were prepared so that the Germans believed they could not fail. The idea is to drive a wedge between the British and French through to Abbeville, box the British no, and then swiftly deal with Franco alone. Germany wants peacs very badly, and her people will cry out loudly if it does not come by the autumn. EFFECT OF RUSSIAN COLLAPSE. "England, of course, feels the strain also, and shortage of ships makes things a bit uncomfortable, although they are quite safe and sound. Conditions in Germany are much -worse than with us, but it will be difficult to starve her out now that she can draw on Russia for grain and materials. Russian ponies are already appearing on the front, for Germany was very short of horses. Of course the collapse of Russia was a, nasty blow. If she had held, we should have definitely finished the war this year and got what we wanted. Germany has gained a victory through corruption and intrigue, as subtle and deep as probably was ever practised in any of the ages or by any nution. She has succeeded in her policy of spreading dissension among her enemy, splitting them up and then dealing with each separately and crushing it. Now that Germany is free to turn her main strength towards the West undoubtedly she gives us something to think about. The German soldier as a man we can afford to dispise. He is a low creature, a coward, ami will not stand up to a show «f strength, but collectively, in great numbers, und led by able officers, iie is a formidable opponent., and that is why lie gives us something to think about. THREE SUCCESSIVE FAILURES. "I considered the German offensive would make us withdraw to some extent, but I did not expect our line to swing back as far as it did. Ha ex-pectcd to break through our line, prevent us closing the ;rap, and gain his object in one big crash with a tremendous weight of men and guns in one place. He hits now failed on three successive occasions—on the Sommc, on the Lys, and on the Ainse. Each offensive has been held up, although with great loss of ground. If he could go on, after a few more advances, he would make things very unpleasant for us, but he is getting near the end of his fresh troops. He has only 40 fresh strong divisions, and 'has used IGS, many f>f,.which, have rfceen <m#vjb*<llj;.. maukcU-

Wo have made him pay a dear price for what lie has got. Our losses also have been heavy—the advancing side .gets prisoners and material, which makes the splash in the papers, but I think wc, can he fairly satisfied. "Wo have learned many lessons which-, wo hope we will not forget, so that we are confident that—wilh God's help and favor—vie shall hold the Germans without losing more ground. The Americans -are coming on manfully, and will make their presence strongly felt from now on. By next year the mastery over the Germans will be assured, and he will bo nursing a sore head for a peace which we will accept. I cannot look forward to this until well into next year. FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN ALLIES.

It is vitally essential to the British Empire not to givo into the Germans. We must at all cost pull together and Mick it out until we have got the upperhand or to near down Germany, that she must accept our terms. We are fightin" for our life, our very national existence 1 , and we sincerely trust that party rivalry and differences, still evident in parts of the Empire, will not endanger our strength. Germany counts on this to undermine us and our allies. It is a danger ever present, for a collection of various units, with various morale, various strength, and various commanders, can never be as strong as one solid force. We have got close to our ideal by placing all our forces under General Foch. There is always a tendency to 'sling off at your neighbour and blame him out of proportion to his faults, but that has been reto a minimum between the British and French, partly on account of the many occasions on which each has now shown weakness for which the other has Aad to pay! Each has had cause to be ashamed of itself more than, once! 'Slinging off has now ceased, and both are first-rate friends. The feeling between us is really excellent, and could -not be improved—and the French are fine soldiers.

CAUSE OF BRITISH RETIREMENT.

'•All -will have wondered, probably why the British front did not hold against the Germans in the offensive. Perhaps there was insufficient appreciation of the danger, consequently insufficient depth of defence, so that when the front system gave, as it usually will in a big attack, there was not enough behind to hold. The enemy was very clever in his concealment of the point of attack, and time was needed to bring up reserve. When they arrived the German was held. He will not stand up against determined opposition, and if our people show a moral strength, he is brought to a standstill pretty quickly. We have learnt our lessons, and hope -to put them to practical account when the next show comes. Events in Italy are cheering. The Italians have shown themselves more than a match for the Australians; and unrest in Austria, added to defeat, may have farreaching results. "Wo need not be anxious if we pull all together. Our fellows will give a good account of themselves if the officers look well to their efficiency, their knowledge and firm leadership of the men. Very many of our best officers have gone. Casualties have been very heavv and promotion rapid, the result of four years of war. Those who are left will give their best, and we believe it will be a sood best."