ATTEMPT TO ANTICIPATE ALLIED OFFENSIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1916, Page 5

ATTEMPT TO ANTICIPATE ALLIED OFFENSIVE.

GERMANY HOPED TO TAKE ALLIED FORCES IN TURN. FALL OF VERDUN WOULD OItLY DEHT OUR ARMOUR. £ (Received 8.50 aan.) LONDON, February 27. The consensus of the Sunday newspapers' views is that the colossal onslaught northward of Verdun indicates that Germany' seeks a solution, at any cost, because she is unable to await the Allies' higher strength, surer combination, and more varied initiative. It is with Germany a case of now or never, both on sea and land. The "Observer" says that the present' attempt is designed to anticipate, disorganise and shatter by an alternate stroke the Allies' plans of a combined offensive at their own time, and, secondly, by indirect means to clear the Allies from the Balkans, with a view to isolating and subduing Rumania. This demands on the. Allies' part absolute coolness and self-control. Finding the weather still unsuitable for complete operations on the Eastern front, Germany brought thence every man who could be spared during the next six weeks. Moreover, Germany massed in the West two-thirds of her armies. .With the vast preponderance of her accumulated shells she hoped to force France and Britain into a premature offensive, and thus be able to employ the maximum degree of strength against them, and if they were beaten to a standstill to-transfer the troops to the East, to tackle Russia in her turn. The "Observer" praises French soldiership during the past week, making the utmost slaughter of the enemy, while straightening the line and economising the men for the purposes of the great French offensive which is already being planned. It adds that Verdun, however important, is not vital. Its l fall would not be a thrust in the Allies' vitals, but only a dent in their armour.