The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1918. THE WAS SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1918. THE WAS SITUATION.

At no period of the war has the position of affairs been more interesting and more favorable than is the case at present. Apart from the relentless pressure that is being applied by the Allies on the enemy, there are <many features worthy, of special note. For instance, the resumption of the German " side-stepping'' tactics—shifting troops from one sector to another—is a manifest sign of weakness, and it is significant that the Allies can dispense with such exhausting tactics, thereby denoting that they have a big superiority of numbers. The German policy of massing men at one sector, driving home the attack at all cost, .and going from one sector to another, has led to immense losses. We have, however, to bear in mind that the Germans were engaged in a desperate gamble for a decision, and were ready to face any losses it* only a decisive success was gained; but the Allies are not yet striking for a decisive blowmerely driving back the enemy, mauling them as much as possible in the process, and manoeuvring them out of position as often as they can. The great blow by the Allies is yet to come, and its advent appears to be not very far distant. There will be noticed in to-day's cables that a writer in M. Clemeneeau s paper (L'Homme Libre) states that "the degree of Foch's victory will only become known after the fresh attacks which the American reserves have made possible. *' It is extremely probable that the statement ha') been most carefully worded, so as to veil its real significance, but reading between the lines, there would appear to be good reasons .tor believing that just as Marshal *och patiently waited for the moment when the Germans were exhausted by their series of violent toasts, before he launched

so strongly, so may lie lie awaiting the completion of the organising process of the First American Army before he makes a simultaneous, determined thrust on every sector, utilising the Americans for great turning movements, so that such a powerful blow may be struck as will send the enemy reeling, and complete the demoralisation which is now in evidence. That would be a fitting close for i'the 1918 campaign, and the Allies! would, in all probability, not only secure favorable winter quarters, but a desirable jumping-off place in the spring. It may be remembered that the Germans' line, after their retreat early last year, ran from St. Quentin to the Oise, -near Moy, across the Oise at La "Fere, over the wooded high country between the Oise and the Ailette and v tben. along the main ridge ■north of the Aisne, a little in advance of the Chemin- des Dames. -The French off ensive in the spring | 'drove them back to the Ailette, beiyond which they were very strongly posted. The defensive system f ; along the whole of the line from ■■'Lens to Rheims, last year, was ■elaborately organised, and proved effective against powerful Allied attacks. It is probable that the enemy hopes again to find comparative security under similar conditions, but the case with which the Drocourt-Queant switch was broken, and the way in which other strong positions have been captured, would seem to indicate the necessity of a retreat to the Hindenburg line, though it is a .grave question whether a retreat to that line will solve the enemy's problem, it being not unlikely that he will be compelled- to fight a delaying action to cover the evacuation of stores from his advanced bases, and may then retreat beyond Cambrai * and St. Quentin. It is now Reported that the enemy has engaged 107 divisions since August 8, three being dismounted. Thirty-two- divisions have been engaged twice, and three thrice. North and south of the Soniine 142 enemy divisions have been counted, representing approximately 6000 rifles to a division, so that there would appear to be one and a quarter million men between Switzerland and the sea, and on the whole front 2\ million. The Allies are turning simultaneously the Sonmie lino and the Hindenburg line, and their crossing the Canal du Nord and the Tortille on a wide front, with the subsequent advance from Havrineourt southwards, bent back- the German flank on a front of eighteen miles, and this will doabtless result in the enemy having to abandon the Somme. The Allies have also gained an important advantage by crossing the Crozal Canal, which was regarded as a strong defence line against tanks, and might have been used as a bastion for the Hindenburg line —now impossible. The capture of Roisel—the junction of the two railways to St. Quentin and Cambrai—is of equal importance, in view of transport of supplies in the near future. It is also gratifying to learn that the French,, between the Ailette and the Oise, have occupied their old line of 1917. A most interesting situation is developing, which threatens the whole line of the Ailette. Noting the Allies' operations along the whole line from north to south, as well as from east to west, their success is a matter for much satisfaction. There has been desperate fighting in places, especially by the French, but opposition has almost invariably been overcome. There is no forecasting at what pace the offensive may develop, but there would seem to be a strong _ possibility of important events in the near future, in Avhich tanks and aeroplanes will play a conspicuous part.