THE PAUSE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 8

THE PAUSE

PROSPECTS OF NEW

OFFENSIVE

REASONS FOR LUDENDORFF'S

DELAY

OFFICIAL WEEKLY WAR REVIEW.

The weekly telegraphic review of the general war- situation for the week ended. 13th July, received by His Excellency the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, states: —

The past week has been chiefly remarkable for the continued delay of the German offensive, although this is now regarded as certain. The only doubt remaining is as to when and where it will be launched. Of course, the Germans can afford -a certain delay, yet it would pay them best to start their offensive at the earliest possible moment, since.presumably they hope for a success which will need propitious campaigning weather to exploit it. . Indeed the offensive would probably have been started before now but for certain delaying factors such as the failure of the Austrian offensive against Italy, and the now known fact that German troops are suffering very heavily from influenza. We may guess too that the internal disagreements between Yon Ludendorff and Yon Kuhlmann have contributed to the delay., KUHLMANN'S DOUBTS. Yon Kuhlmann seems to have been so sceptical of the chances of military success that he wished to open peace negotiations while the German army "is still in position to offer offensive menace. Ludendorff probably thinks that peace terms, including annexations and indemnities, could riot be got from the Allies till the Allied armies are decisively crushed. Since without such terms Germany will be ruined, Ludendorff must have argued that the necessary military triumph is obtainable provided every possible resource is placed at his disposal; Kuhlmann's resignation indicates the triumph of Ludendorff. He may yet need time to organise resources hitherto withheld. He will certainly then launch the most deseprate offensive possible. ' RUSSIA -eLOOKS FOR REMEDIES.

Public feeling in Russia against the national humiliation by the Brest. Litovsk peace found vent in the assassination of the German, so-called Ambassador Mirbach at the hands of the social revolutionaries. The Czecho-Slovaks have taken control of Vladivostok owing to the attempts of the Bolshevik authorities to exterminate them, and also to send arms and munitions to tho West to enablo the German and Austrian prisoners to fight th 6 remainder of the Czechoslovak : troops in Siberia. The general feeling in Russia is well'evidenced by tho fact that tranquility reigns already at Vladivostok under the new regime of the combined Siberian Government and the Czecho-Slovak troops, whereas the rest of Russia is still in the throes of anarchy and bankruptcy. ' ■ •

The Bolsheviks are, leaning mdre and more to the purchase of one more hour of precarious life by any discoverable means, even to the handing over of the rest of Russia to German domination. 1 It is plain that the whole of Russia, is utterly weary of , chaos and, bloodshed, and only desires help to secure once more peace and order. The help is offered frankly and promptly in disinterested quarters, and in full sympathy ,with the democratic aims of Russia. •