NEAR CAMBRAI

Evening Star, Issue 16628, 10 January 1918, Page 6

NEAR CAMBRAI

THE COMING GERMAN ' STROKE. PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA. jt 'ADEN. 1 [By Cmticds.] One of yesterday's later cables contained the statement from Mr Baker, American Secretary of War, that the Germans are preparing a gigantic offensive in the LcnsCambrai sector. Tho delay in its delivery is duo to tho time required for tire concentration of their lingo masses. The fact that the assertion comes from so authoritative a quarter is no absolute guarantee that a German offensive is coming, or thatit will fall upon the particular scoter named, as it is tho -business of the enemy to bluff and mislead us as much as they possibly can. But we may take it that Air ’Baker speaks with knowledge of the latest and best information which is in the hands of the Allies, so his words merit serions consideration. Ho adds that the Allies have no fear. This probably understates the case. Our armies have had ample warning, and if they have taken advantage of it to prepare positions of enormous strength, they will probably be pleased to see the Gormans take their turn _in assailing powerfully entrenched positions. We are too strong in guns, machine guns, and reserves to have much fear of the ultimate result, though we may be forced back somewhat at the first onset. Ail offensives have two main aspects the strategical and Hie tactical. Considered from the strategical point of view a blow at the Lens-Canibrai sector has a good deal to recommend it from the enemy’s point of view. The sector is close to the junction of the Anglo-French armies, and if the offensive extends as far south as Kt. Quentin it- will reach the actual junction. The enemy will doubtless count upon the tendency of each allied army to look after itself to assist them; but in this they are likely to be disappointed by the patent co-operation of the Anglo-French. 'l’bere is some reason- to believe that the Americans are holding a sector in this neighborhood, and, if so, the enemy will expect to profit by the rawness of the American armv, which is as yet only an army in the making. But here, again, thev'are likelv to be disappointed.'and find that the American troops actually in line, with their stiffening of highly-trained regulars, are capable of giving a very good account of themselves. Oa-mbrai is 90 miles from Paris, and if the Goimaus deliver their offensive on that sector they will bo attacking at a point almost as near to the French capital as any which thev cou-i select. Should they make an absolute breach through which their troops ran pour, they will be able to separate the British from the French, and swing round upon Paris from the north. Fortunately that contingency is rather remote. THE TACTICAL ASPECTS. Not a great deal need be said about- the. tactical aspects of the Lens-Canibrai sector, which do not differ a great deal from those of mre other sector which might be attacked. If the enemy deliver their blow between Lens and Cambrai they will he striking- on a sector where we hold mostof the dominating positions, and where their progress will be uphill work. Recent offensives have pushed the enemy hack in that region towards ground which is practically on the sea. level, and, from the German positions the ground steadily rises towards Arras and beyond. Westward of Arras the ground is' mostly between 328 and 656 feet above sea level. Southward of Cambrai the general position is much the same. We hold plenty of high ground and dominating positions "suitable for defence.. In tho neighborhood of Gambiai itself our front- lias been rendered much less salient, and the line- has been straightened bv the withdrawal from Bourlon Mood. On the whole, our position will be excellent from tho defensive point of view if our troops have, thoroughly dug themselves in, if the guns arc kept well back, and if a skilful scheme of tactics, based upon energetic counter-attacks, has been worked out. A GLOOMY PICTURE. The Petrograd correspondent of tho ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ scuds a very gloomy picture of the internal condition of Russia. Ho declares that Russia has ceased to exist a« an organised State, and tlkit all idea that she can fight must- lie abandoned. It is obvious that she is in no fighting condition now, but- it would, bo folly to abandon the hope that she will be able to fight in the future. It Ls always the darkest hour before the dawn, and things will inevitably look blackest just before the reaction against anarchy and indiscipline comes. Besides, allowance must- be made for the imagination and lack of perspective iir the correspondent. The facts which he relates—wandering soldiers, rioting, broken windows, and tho rest —are merely the usual accompaniments of civil disorder. The disorder in France at the time of the Revolution was quite as bad. but that did not prevent her from putting up a big fight when her Government fell into capable hands. The correspondent reports that the anarchist propaganda is making headway at the expense of the- Bolsheviks, and that Petrograd is threatened with starvation. But these facts and the geneva] misery which will result, coupled with the revelation of Germany’s designs upon Russian territory, are just the things to lead up to a reaction. THE POSITION NEAR ADEN. Yesterday the British War Office reported that a strong reconnaissance from Aden towards Hatut Jabir resulted in the destruction of Hatufs defences, and a later cable from Washington stated that the British, on January 3, started an offensive against the Turks, capturing tho entire force at Mainda, near Shabin. Probably the second announcement refers to the same operations as the first, thought it is impossible to locate the villages named. The position around Aden is extremely curious. Although the war’ has now lasted over three years, and the Turks in the Aden hinterland have been out off from Constantinople for the greater part of that time, they still appear to be holding their f round. Indeed, a Turkish communique eel ares : “It is reported from Yemen that our troops near Aden continue enterprises. Safety prevails over the whole of the Arabian provinces.” The last statement is obviously.false, since the province of El Hejaz has successfully revolted, and the Yemen is cut off in consequence. But there is no donbt that the Turks still have a force in being and active near Aden. The mystery Ls as to how it maintains itself and renews its munition supplies. It cannot receive munitions down the coast of the Red Sea, owing to the Arab revolt having cut that line of communication. It cannot receive them through Mesopotamia and down tho coast of the Persian Gulf, owing to the British occupation of Mesopotamia; whilo Central Arabia represents about 1,600 miles oi country which is mostly desert, and is crossed only by a few caravan tracks. It is extremely improbable that- the 'Turks are receiving supplies across the desert. In any case, it would seem to be -mod policy to take advantage of the slack season to clean up the Turks near Aden, and thus relieve troops for operations elsewhere. Aden itself—which is a mass of volcanic rocks joined to the mainland onlv by a narrow, level, and sandy isthmus—is in no danger; hut if the Furks in the neighborhood were crushed it would probably be possible to reduce the garrison.