INTENSE EFFORT TO OPEN ROAD TO PARIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 74, 27 March 1918, Page 5

INTENSE EFFORT TO OPEN ROAD TO PARIS.

ENEMY'S FOUR TO ONE PREPONDERANCE IN MAN POWER. (Received 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 26. A sad feature of <the battle was that civilians were again forced to abandon their homes in the Feronno region, where many villagers had repaired their farme and resumed cultivation. Kefugep.B are full of praise of the assistance the British Army rendered in moving their effects. Not an animal, a drop of wine, or a shred of linen was left for the Germans. It was the grim Irony of fate that the Germans were now forced, to re-occupy land (they wantonly devastated a year ago, which make their battle plans for the immediate future much more difficult. It is believed Amiens is Hindenburg's immediate objective, but General Petain'e report that the French are fighting foot by foot behind Noyon is significant. This is only fifty-six miles from Paris. The "Daily Telegraph's" war expert opines that the enemy will soon concentrate an intense effort in an attempt to open a road, towards Paris from St. Quentin. Attacks upon the British will then seek to protect the principal attack against Paris. Colonel Repington points out that French help greatly lightens the task of the British Fifth Army, which had a hard time. Seeing seventy-three out of ninety-six German divisions on our front are already identified, it is dear we hare thus far been greatly outnumbered. The enemy's preponderance of men is four to one. OW loss of guns is growing heavy, but there are large reserves in England and France, and losses can be replaced. The War Cabinet, Colonel Kcpingtpn adds, ought immediately ito announce the measures they propose in order to make good all losses. , All English newspapers insist that the Government must be supported by every sacrinae necessary to enable us to keep our sorely tried units up to fighting strength.—(A, and N.Z. Cable.) \