SITUATION REVIEWED.
GERMAN STRENGTH DWINDLING. WILL ENDEAVOR TO HOLD HINDENBURG LINE. Received Sept. 20, 9.30 p.m. 1 London, Sept. 19. The Germans have constructed a line , across the base of the St. Mihicl salient, ► to which they retired, but it is believed i to be of no great strength. The Germanß ; realise that any further advance in this : sector will involve Metz and the import- . ant lateral communications from Strassburg to .Metz, via Montmedy. They are, therefore, likely to offer a determined resistance. • The French are emphatic in their praise ' of the American staff work in carrying " out on such a large scale an attack when new to the game. 1 As the position threatens the whole line of the Meuse northwards, its in- ■ iluence on the future course of the war j may be very great.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable 1 Assoc. The enemy probably intends to hold the Hindenburg line until the winter renders further operations impossible. The German strength on the west front is now reduced to 191 divisions, t fifteen divisions having recently been r broken up, while in more than twenty ( divisions the battalions have been re- } duced to a strength of three companies. Evidence exists showing that the en- [ emy is finding great difficulty in arrangj ing reliefs for the divisions in the line. 1 THE RUSSIAN SITUATION. 1 No further fighting is reported from northern Russia, beyond skirmishes favorable to us. The Bolsheviks have fallon back from the Onega-Oberserkaya , Road enabling us to secure this line of ' communication. , The Czecho-Slovaks in European Rus- . fia are hard pressed. ; PERILOUS POSITION OF CZECHS. , Within the last ten days the Bolsheviks, apparently assisted by considerable • numbers of Germans, occupied Volsk, i Simbrisk and Kazan. The Czechs are i very tired, and lack munitions, equipI ment and stores. The fall of Kazan ap--1 pears to be entirely due to the lack of i ammunition. The Germans are reported to be concentrating heavily in the Kharkoff-Beli-gorod area, apparently with a view to advancing to the Volga to prevent General Alexieff from joining the Czechs ' nbout Samara. Tho Bolshevik force between the Czechs • in the Ekaterinburg area and General ! Poole's forces at Archangel are estimated at 18,000. The total Bolshevik and German forces eventually engaged with the Czechs will be over 100,000. IMPORTANT EFFECT ON GERMANS. It is noteworthy that already the Ozechs are exercising an important effect on the western front by keeping the enemy engaged in Russia' This is exactly what our Russian policy has in view. GERMAN SLIMNESS. Germany's offer to withdraw from northern Russia if we do the same is apparently due to the difficulty of inducing the Finns to participate in the war, and to a desire to avoid commitments, in view of the situation on the western front Germany, however, continues preparations, and we must be prepared for a serious attack on the railway and coast. POSITION AT BAKU. \ ARMENIAN TREACHERY, FATE OF BRITISH FORCE OBSCURE. Received Sept, 20, 11.45 p.m. London, Sept. 20. It was recognised from lie first that our sending an expedition to Baku was hazardous. It was known that Armenian National Council had made a definite , peace with the Turks, and sent emissaries to Constantinople and Berlin, but it was believed that 80,000 Armenians at Baku were out of touch with the National Council, and that they, with the assistance of the non-Bolsheviks and a small British forte, would offer a stout resistance, while the strategical gain if Baku was held firm would justify the risk. On July 25 the Bolsheviks at Baku Were overthrown, and a new government created, which begged for British assistance. We acquiesced, but could only send a small force, owing to the difficulty of communications. The local forces at Baku numbered 10,500. FAILURE OF THE ARMENIANS. When the Armenian troops were tested pn August 7 they proved unreliable, and refused to fight, and dispersed to their homes, causing the failure of the attack against the Turkish enveloping movement north of Baku. On August 26 a Determined Turkish attack was beatej* off by the North Staffords and W-orcesters, who, though fighting gallantly, had to give ground. A second attack on another sector also failed. EVACUATION DECIDED UPON. By the end of August it war realised that the co-operation of the local forces Was insufficiently effective to justify tho retention of our detachment, and the evacuation was ordered on September 1. On the same day the Turks again attacked, resulting in the Warwickshires having to cover the Armenian and Russian retirement. It is feared they lost heavily. BREATHING SPACE. On September 2 the Russian General Bicharakow occupied Petrovsk, and promised reinforcements. A small detachment reached Baku on September 9. This gave Us breathing space, and inspired the Allies to hold on, and induced the Caspian fleet to refuse to evacuate the British Meanwhile the Armenians were negotiating to hand over Baku to the enemy. The fleet trained the guns on the Armenian quarter. The Turks on the 16th attacked in force. The fight lasted sixteen hours, the brunt being borne by the British. WHERE ARE THE BRITISH? As it is now known that the British : were evacuated, it is presumed that the • Russians provided General Dunsterville 1 with the necessary shipping. The Turks i had recently undertaken to advance from Tabriz as far as Jemarubad. Our watch- ! ing detachment retired on th« 12th in-
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Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1918, Page 5
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897SITUATION REVIEWED. Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1918, Page 5
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