GERMANY'S POSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1918, Page 5

GERMANY'S POSITION.

ARMIES BATTERED BUT UNBOKEN. RETIREMENT TO SHORTER LINES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following telegraphic summary of official war news for the week ending October 18 has been received by the Prime Minister from the British Ministry of Information: THE GERMAN RETREAT. The first stage of the German .retirement between the Oiße and Argonne was successfully carried out. The enemy is now back to his main rear line of defence. He cannot hold this any length of time, and the latest report shows that the French have established themselves north of Serre River. But the success of the first German withdrawal up to the present does not justify the hope that the second stage of withdrawal will be less successful. The Allies' difficulties increase with their advance, owing to the necessity of repairing and organising the lines of communication. Nevertheless last week's operations in the Artois and Flanders greatly increased enemy difficulties. The Germans have not shortened, but lengthened, their front, and withdrawal from the salients occupied involves large numbers of troops converging at certain points, so that there must be serious clanger of congestion on railways, and road junctions. The Germans, however, are so good at largo scale troop movements that we must build no fantastic hopes of a German general breakdown, or great hauls of prisoners and material. GERMAN MILITARY SITUATION. Despite the tremendous transformation of the whole military situation, nothing justifies the view that tho German armies are faced with imminent disaster, or are on the point of collapse. Despite their severe defeats and fosses of nearly 300,000 prisoners and 4000 gun 3, the German line is still unbroken," the German armies are still intact, and no general demoralisation has yet started. The German army numbers more than 200 divisions, and if they retire to tho line of the Meuse, and the Germans are determined to continue the struggle, there is no reason against their protracting the war for many months yet. Then, if Austria and Turkey are out of the war, peace can be made. MAIN CAUSE OF GERMAN ANXIETY, History very seldoin shows a .nation concluding a humiliating peace while it retains an army in the field, and it is probably not so much, the military situation which causes the enemy anxiety as the imminent defection of all her allies, which would make Germany's position quite desperato. THE CZECHOSLOVAKS. There is no improvement in the situation as regard the Czecho-Slovaks, and it is doubtful if they can maintain their present position unless help speedily arrives. THE BALKANS. The German and Austrian troops on. the Balkan front have made no serious resistance, retiring confusedly with much loss of prisoners and guns. The capture of Durazzo should be a considerable help in facilitating supply PROGRESS IN' PALESTINE. We have progressed rapidly in Palestine, and the cavalry now possess Homs and Tripoli. The Turks, it is believed, do not intend to offer any serious resistance south of Aleppo, where a considerable force (12,000), under General Eliman Sanders, is being concentrated. FEAR OF REVOLUTION IN GERMANY In the kaleidoscopic movement of events it is no good saying more than that the German Goverimwnt itaa (rob*.

ably been frightened into its present apparent changes, with the appointment of Prince Mas and his support by the German Socialists. It is not so much by the military situation as by the serious fear of social revolution which might land the country in the hands of the Bolshevik and anarchist elements. ,It is uncertain whether Prince Max stands or falls, but the latest rows suggests that the Socialist.!! ure prepared to maintain him, at any rate for the present. 'Should he go, it would be the hardest task to' find a man of sufficient weight to re-" place him. There are credible reports as to the prevailing serious agitation throughout Germany, even among the workmen at Essen, and the tone of the whole Conservative press shows deep gloom.

THE SITUATION IN AUSTRIA. The Austrian Government has apparently lost control of the situation. The Jugo-Slav, Czecho, Polish, 1 and Ukrainian members of the Rciehrath are reported to have withdrawn to make constituent assemblies of their own, thus hardly,anyone would remain in the Reichrath except Germans and Austrian, but these realise that they are unable any longer to dominate. Austria might join hands with the AustroGerman Socialists in demanding self' determination for Austrians and Garmans. This must inevitably bring them up against other nationalities, but might mean unionism of movement with the Germans iof the Empire. If that was ao organised, the Government of Austria will practically cease, especially as their national questions are so closely bound up with the Socialists that diverging national struggles might quickly becomo class warfare. ' 'THE TURKISH SITUATION. The Turkish situation, and the com''' position of the Newfik Cabinet, remain obscure. Since Turkey has' associated herself with the German-Austro-Hun-garitin peace proposals to President Wilson, Turkey has taken no new step towards peace.. AIRMEN ON THE WESTERN FRONT. Hitherto the rapid movement of events on the Western front have made the heaviest demands on British ailmen. At first, while the British advanced on TJouai, air operations werft centred chiefly between the Scarpe and the Somme, but early on Tuesday morning the storm centre moved to the sector between Cambrai and St. Quentin. An operation on the biggest seals was launched, under cover of dark, which necessitated every possible form of aerial co-operation. Soon after mid night heavy fainstorms greatly hampered the machines, but, after dawn, the weather quickly cleared, and large British forces ftew perpetually over the battlefield, directing artillery firs, re porting fresh targets, and maintaining contact with the front line. ■ *

We again used a device for dropping smoke-shells round the enemy's strong points to Mind his machine-gunners and screen our advance besides, thus saving manv valuable British lives.

After the fall of Camhrai anil Le Cateau, the rapid erosion of the vital enemy system of railways converging pn Brussels gav« th» British airmen notable chances of attacking congested communications behind the battle zone. Station Junctions were repeatedly and heavily attacked, the permanent way I>«ing broken up at many points. Vainly did strong enemy air forces resist. Nine British machines were reported missing, hut 21 of the enemy's were destroyed, nine more being driven down . From Thursday to Sunday bad weather greatly hampered flying. Only a very few enemy machines were, met, and these mostly behind the lines. The British, however, carried out highly successful raids

On Monday, during the Belgian offen« sive at Dixmude and Werviez, the most intense air activity prevailed. Thus, in one day, 30 enemy machines were destroyed, two being brought - down by ground fire and six driven down. One balloon was shot dow» aflt®*

The Royal Air Force, despite heavy mists, during the week dropped neatly 20 tons of bombs over the usual objeo* tivea and lost not one machine.