A REAL OFFENSIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 4

A REAL OFFENSIVE.

The magnitude and seriousness of the! Br!tish"'oftciisive' can be'-gauge'i by'Vomparing it \vi£h' the effort last Septen> bcr. The battle of Loos began on September 25th, and on the'last day of the month Sir John French issued an order setting forth the details of the victory: Most of the gains were made at the first rueh. When the heavy German couc-ter-attacks early in October had been repulsed, we had to be content to remain where we were. Men apparently were not lacking to make another attack, but munitions were not available. Mr. Lloyd George tells us to-day that the 6Upply that blasted a way to Loos was the result of "many weary weeks' accumulation." In other words the Allies were not Teady for a great offensive. Similarly in the Champagne the French ceased attacking as soon as the strength of the German reserve positions was revealed. But to-day the situation is very different. Having taking one system of defences, and beaten off counter-attacks, the British are not "resting," as they did at Loos, but are immediately setting about battering down the second German system. The offensive has now been going on for a fortnight, and the enemy has been pressed the whole time. Moreover we know that the offensive is only just beginning. The situation can -be grasped properly only if it is realised that the British are doing something they have iiot attempted to do before. The news from the British front today is very promising. We have comluenced an attack on the second German line of defence, east of Contalmaison, and" captured several strong positions. One report says we have captured Bazentin-le-Grand and Longue'val, villages cast of Contalmaison. As Longue ; . val is three mites from Contalmaison, an advance to there would be an important success. At the time of writing , the news from headquarters is meagre, but Sir Douglas Haig's reticence and moderation are well known. He makeethe significant claim of having captured some howitzers in one sector. Howitzers are placed gome distance behind ,the trenches. The operations on the British front during the last few days have materially improved the line, bring-' ing it more into conformity with the French line-to the south. AVhile the offensive is developing we may derive additional comfort from Mr. Lloyd George's statement about the extension of munition-making. Britain is now turning out twice as much ammunition in one week ac was fired in the September offensive, and the output is'so far from the possible maximum that the i new factories ihave not yet reached a third of their full capacity. In view""»f Mr. Lloyd George's, tribute to the French organisation of munitions, it is interesting to note figures giveu two or three monthes ago by the British correspondent with the French armies. By the invasion of her richest industrial provinces France was deprived of 70 per cent, of her coal supply, 90 per cent, or her iron ore, 75 per cent, of her steel production, yet in February of this year 1 the output of unloaded shells for "75's" was over thirty times, and that of heavy shells over forty-four times, as great as at the outbreak of war. Only this wonderful organisation in the face .of great difficulties has . enabled the French, while keeping, the enemy out of Verdun," to accumulate reserves for an offensive. With France producing in such quantities, and Britain- throwing her vast industrial organisation into the •cale, the Germans in the West must pveotu*Hj ib* ~"§2U>ved ruder."