WAR NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16783, 11 July 1918, Page 4

WAR NOTES

[By Bx-Yeomas-.] LONDON, May 8. A PAUSE. Tho tense and anxious period when the Channel putts seemed ut immediate- danger 'has and it is possible to tu-ke stock, to tspoak, oi the present situation. ' it seems to bo clear that whilst the tiiomy made extorsive in regaid to advances und cupturc* ->f positions, h-e mud very hoaviiy for it. is Known to sta Jiow a. iinc of defence much Hiiivlior in nujnbere titan the Germans fiija-lly, or at l&dit for the time, brought tho i'tt:uk to a Of course, all advances must pa-two at times so as to permit of tho bringing up of heavy ffuns and anpplies—always a trying task when b.t-id.j;-ji <w..d i<wd3 tire doLLioyxl. That the vr.omv will resumo the attack bs early n-d pos.-ible appears >o be tho opinibn of niisao uuthoiiliea. Indeed, it seems to he the only pciicy for the enemy. It has been a severe lilow to us to have to retreat bofuro an enemy many thought we had ■well o:i the down grade. It nuiEt cJso be clear that tho accounts we were told of how tho fiernu'in soldiers wero a poor lot and half-storved weto very far from leing correct. There, is much .reason for satisfaction in st-mo directions, however. As w« ki-nw tht-t th'i defending lino was not mote than one-fourth the of the attacko'H, itrnl that tho loss of the enemy must iiituHuly liavc beer, many times n-entoT (r;trh.aj,-3 three or four to one), it mav weli' bo doubted if the balance of aofuti'l ;-;iin rs-.de'l with the Germans. Lov i-.if very }i«-iivilv can onlv be accepted when tile object' is ittUin«l. 6o far, the Gerrmirn lit-« r.r.t i."<'t:rr,d their obje-rt, pv.'l evcrvmf sterns very hrrpef-'il now thit they w : ll neith<>r v'X to the Uianni-l ports nor'br'.-ak through between the British and French forces. Ko.Mi:xn!xa*io us.

There ar;> import nt to ns ''which the n<:eiit by Uie enomy b:s a!- it. Oi.« of them !_? that the of the j.-OT>!f lutve- received a. imuu-iHvdtd eidr, nhtUt tiie tank wiu ii.j hmM'.o tim ir.<ive d-nqer wiach tnem. 'ihe agents and friend* oi tho eneii'y in our nuds-t Me not hke ; y tJ eet .i.uh'patient hrarin R in the nctii fi.tuiu is another losatt, this is parJi.'jis the b fr 0 -eat of all. -Vs muaJ, the (Jeimmi cUO .-t=ekitg to .lLout if.ee whilst they ha\c tho paw lib in tm-ir hj >r.d=. The danger of their succeeding "tows !e-i and le-"ts as tho people ate beu to -et in the.r trie light. Am fb r t :,st!y impoitint matter is_that the i cu;.l3 of the Empire ard our fiicnds .n f..j United States hdx-e lwd their eyes widely opene-i to the fact that whilst mm-" lii.-hmen fnd women are with us an th-3 grertt another numerous section cxa with the enemy. It is veil to rc-r-no.rise our enemies as well a« j 0' :• lilitof, "md mi!3 ; ons of Er.gl'-ih, j S.-otc;-., .-md Vr<l-h people have been elow j to .'ictepi a action of tile Irish .s erumira. Tim v now see the bitter ho. f ility, and r-i"-t lie foiced to act aceuidingly. It fil: two to malce a r|tutTß'l, rnd eqv.allv b th m.'i'ieo must be willint; when friendship is Enulishmen have long i« <n preptrel to acrtjit fxishmen as part of the family, of which a, good Hlretration is the welcome to Irish people in England, whether in business or other circles. One kn-owv this is not returned in full. Viewed r.itoieiher we can tike much com fort and await the next move with copfidenr-A The one hbek upot ifi Ireland, ii-k1 tho bf'st thlnp fo do is to ignore our enemi?s thco for the time beincr, save_to take stops th.nt th-ny do not render active = orviee to the Germans HI! OIL) BUFTD \. \ i jn-> ttiott (i the le ent ten Pc j jtl, n 0 ( e ti H h i leociitß pldiuci tTut oti iiu io t1! the iimrm, fifjhterg is o d Alii} wrndt ltd t 1 ro 2-a l t 1 n un cut] iJui if hokhn,, so lit d p is. otl o 1 an 1i o ono Mil ie i in e the murt ol our en b tcr tin tho t r ns In the I{, t lor ono I ftnui \oo I jmit\ oi \Ailthue aid t ' itc mi cic ujHindti en hroe t \\i 4 l i ' iiJj outh 101 10 i ion nt 1 i j he'd m foi <\e- 24 not i Ih \ \u iid i id ■uh 1 ild up be ]tit in pjj i 0 iiit I tho p ep-intion d(1 ii nt < ' tit. ulurc Sume men lof o( hj t n-. ,itatlj diot ngu^ihtd i s L I uliii hi ounuctl md lutd i H to the 1 tl c L <l e " they we r lh->-\ nt imo „ Jnu 1 TOar *i I « n t <n r ont inl la kof heir hel met inn (inti l „ fnnots fght i tifii tl Ft >t I It 1 u md hell htt i k i L r Vpiti of the Pui da -1 o II >u it > ] I ti-rii lec nt\ md Ii 1 i-,i v r 1 en hds miitntl> ktp I tho hun rni lie n? In ouch Tl n I [r i lur tie 1 t fi 1 1 t n "i pies ip--1 p i to hj \ it d i fir tit d o oil i i» nit i d ou d ence tor l t ji it th cut. it, wis celt-nit on a £ e tci d ih t t\<" before, nl\( tj ] T SPIRIT i ]t *, i i i i fo fee' p ouj of the ! < no pn li 1 ' d!i tin Tutu g old e-s | N ij o tnik, n the Yim\ One n nt if o'n e I i tl Itt 1 ! n ihitr t t 1 1 ppears tha % ( t m ti \\ lit nn Pe mti t t 1 I i no fi s t!i ii it 1 < \it i !' { , L i f ] i be i t - "<- 1 dp } 1 it ft out i It ) rqw tl ( 1 "ht ll > D 11 htl rp 1 j t i \\ i tifct ft < ud tl

r-'f." The cijcv who had t > ex'.mine '' ' ]a• i-> I'll- hr.v, he ordond iV>n hark to their tints, but be added: " 1a en then a'« at sri5 r i id the voanej devils j- ...._»■ 1 to joti th 'r w> in tV draft." This dci't, s an ff client spir.l. and we < - . i\\ 1 of miHi I'd-, An.,th,'r ;k->H T t'tinj 5= th'd. lit-i of yonn<r men ■■l pi '*' 'ttil o" "pil> » ii ve vol; nvmlv ' t-■">(' f-'T> ard kt.-b, r< "i-> Of r- •!>•• (here nr" nm.i | "iv"-b-"nt ,'" a ' nrr.!" of vli-.m the v.iiterj n „„f v ( nfou'iti-"'.! fit i elf t* "rse "t P 'ton ■> fw- d i" ' "' K<"" r'i.'ed wi*T> ,^, r l <,-*:,.• .<;- T1 frit 1 hj d 1 ee-i h-forf- j jh« , m d , i Vm-tI •" (1 ! id '.!" i tiv'.v re- :, *H "T\-"t \r" thin 1 - T i-'Ti lii'dcvT* l.« -dhd on h- "id • "T Uk on n v ffif Mn. "* 'i Id ~ " .' in J , '-,.' , r - 1 " •p,, 1.- 1 i -.1, r f j* '-,11. ■ ■="■ ■ f 1 : '•>- 'T- ;. ,r. 1,,-: it /' d i t I.' < ■- t- 'i- '. L. Mi--,v i"r 51 hj W 'o' • ll '-'! , S.i'mdiT, t.-'iM-) pi.iT,v: p-io- 1 ' 1 i v •)' mat'on "ppear f. dbh. T.nvr ox, Mo- 21. I JIl-Tulli." i To many Uniil .11/ pf pL the- re\jpw o. ' Aniercn ii ;■, . j ih i\)>.; o-foie iluekiiij..:;,, i\i i '_ ~j, v in.i" ll.ktn a m f '-"- t . ecu- iu ivir ■.- trem acss *h" Aila: tic :.i; j: i-d, '.u.i - f the t-on-d uf ia ui . ,-er, -n.,\\. ' pi')..- ti' 'i ihuf.asin 1 wlnn 'he ohnr . to 'in-er 1 ; c.s-j pi <-v.nl'U i:-. r it. \V. i::» - . e lein far too (ju-ci u\vr our home men. nut no cue can aceus'ih ■ Li i.doi.-r oi o*ur 1 an'-bcaried vli'n , f,.w-<- is i f; csLcnd the warm liand U. «■, ~,«i 'ihuic is mDtp in the , r.. c\\ than ir.v n the c,e and it is> a {.Teat tii i: .ii tlu ln-t■ r\ or on ihnjjire ar.d thf | L v • d fiuncs ib ■! 'a \., hj of AniTican troops 'p.'.ucs ik a > i'.oo •-..iiu-i. P„ti..p, and tae ' K.n,,' o*' oar /rea. ha p.if utt-i the Suis 1 ,n:ii' itr-p's. C i 'iui ; n - the ?/e of the ' «a'.J, it is bal a t, on ini.'- a.' > iuj- America , v.rw part of ihe Jj up re. d k.U it will ever ue „Ja it me .rpTiivfd i* rniike^'. but wo iuvti' ceuaMiV d.aun a 1 ,; clo-cr togctLor 'm\ luppnuigs riciag tin h'-t 11 .ncnthf. or si. "J ii" • ieu"ha.s Leon broken, ar.d. properly si.aye.-niaiiaaed, and with sr.ch unique opportune ks, sJineihn/ liko a <il iance between the two bortn hti of ihf inp countti's ""-hui.ld t'' 4 the rr ; ult. Tha American soldiers tc". tno wann greeting- very much, and n:a.i'- were very 1 outspoken about it. a Lor/ion crowd is always worth st-ndy:ng, and the keen men from the U.S.A. wdl have gone back to their camp wirh pleas-ant memories. Not the least- of these will be the friendly greeting,from the E/ngdish soldiers they met at Wellington Barracks. A party o: home troops rreeted the Americans with: " What une 'ole Sam, W ?003 it, ni-ate-r" The friendly feeling- es-prr.-acJ r.nd the cv.jtnt desire to take thl> A -v- ucan as "ci't of u-" would naturally I make the atttors fed tney v,ere on friendlv f-iouud. i-v. i.i* they Juvts ai-o '.„ -n much nnoivS-.ed bv iho f.iic troops they have seen. not. th" --jit z.. " 0 -- be.ng tha "ti-iid o: honor whuh the Li e tiuaids turned out. A small party of Life Guards in full uniform, with all 'the old glory of steel, &hsepskbi ; white gauntlets, and plumes, not forgetting the beautiful black chargers, mads a ni.o sight at the Horse Guardi parade. As .the nioiKiisd officers who led the Americans camo abreast, the troopers feoygat their

THINGS TO SEKEMBER. During the debate in the House of Ocaamons about 'General Maurice's letter -which questioned the accuracy of Ministers' statements, based on his own department's information, it came our that the French were growing upset that whilst to were holding 8, front of only 100 miles, they were holding 326 miles. Now, at iirst glance this would seem to suggest that they -were doing far more than our men, but on looking into matters another complexion is put on it. First of all, it is well to remember that the Germans have made a point of mas-simr their befit men and guns opposite the British. Another thing is this: whilst line we hold may be short in comparison with the rest of the west front, it is all-important, and it is not so 'much the Icucdh in miles as the number of the enemy opposite." It is perfectly true that our line has been shorter than the one held by the French for some time. On the other hand, ours has been the harder task owing to the numbers and quality of the enemy and their activity. Whilst -ivo have been constantly 'busy, many F-eetors of the French line hava been comparatively quiet. That has been the genera! policy of the enemy, to leave the French more or less alone whilst attacking up. The greatest benefit in reg-ard to having- one man in command ox the Anglo-French forces is that_ ha can judge how long a section of the lino shall be'hekl by each portion of the troops uii&sr him. Therein we get a real advantar-a, though that does not do away with the misatisfactory part of having- a British Array under other than ft Briton. As the English Army .bears the brunt of the fighting, it would be fitting thai an Englishman should hold chief command. However, wi-s have accepted the situation, no doubt for very good reasons, but cur modesty may be over, done. .Another thing we should remember when comparing the length of the line is that we have to keep a large army in England and Ireland, with other fighting forces in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Africa, phw all we ere called en to do so as to maintain mastery of the sea. Our task is the chief one, and it should be recognised more than it as. Tte enemy do net under-estimats us, and pay us the, compliment of calling us the chief foe, besides masdns more rsen per mile opposite us than at tny other section. RECOGNITION NEEDED. The men of the merchant ■-errice have done as much for the gn;>t cause as the Royal Navy .tself. and it is quite t:me something ir. th" way o" pr<.p"r rccocnit.cn v, a= bestowed. A pallant sador. who has perhapt been torpedoed two or th:-"e timrs in the discharge of hi= duty, p-ihaps brine r.g food to Erzlard comes a •'hire m c.vdian jrarb, and is" ott-en a-ked why hj? is not in thfi Army! It uo-id cert.-inly be fitting thai the merchant sf.w-c sh'.'.l be on a% 1 WiT mm, a-s it c<n.> ; n'y is. Bnnt'in; fool f'.r th<* u=e of the Armv Navy, anl c v.! ar.s is equally as as takirg shc-Us tn the front. AT tiiirg-* cmndcre;, _a prop~r uniform '"or .mrehnon sailors wou'.d app»->r to be m order, rusl nnt.l this is f-rihcoimno; a dstirct.ic bacVc ■-nouiJ be wrm Muiri on of the lowt jrradc weir backet ahouph thj-= hich r up have none>. y> whv not our sadcr*? Trey cert .inly also i"re-«-rv.-a rorda'.. their I'jnit;; )>■ nvj ztncirr than these to which man* soldi'rs hi bis* '-au>o= .ire exposed. Ahcady a >-up has been vrado by the Admiralty ;s-u tt-i re~jHtim- for j tho wfdTii" of =-erv'.co cb?vr-i>s hv o*nc"'s ! men. •woiren r-: *h<" KX R. RX\ .K . and W.P-.N.Sh, the lattr.- b msr th» w'ci'« torce attached to thr Niw so tint there_ :-s hope for the merchint s-rv ca proper. T.Kmen of the latter hove more to cancer ihrf-. the regular Navy m n d.:::r.c this war. the U boats imthtj a .-pr 'id tercxt of tho merch-vrr i=Vr«. v.- -hi c.vinp; the i fighting craft a witl? bcith n* n trn.eral niK