Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. FOCH HITS BACK.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1918, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. FOCH HITS BACK.

A Fruit mature consideration, the Germans launched their great “Peace Offensive.” They evidently considered that the British part of the line was too hard a nut to crack, for they had still keen recollection of the unmerciful drubbing that they received on the former occasion. Besides this they had keen so constantly harried hy the Australians that (heir nerve was gone. The Americans who were novices at the .game of Avar seemed suitable game for the Huns to show their prowess against. They therefore attacked at Chateau Thierry. The reception that they met with was so warm that the. Germans very soon had the fight taken out of them. The accuracy of the machine-gunning of the Americans was something that the Germans did not anticipate. In the

List rush they succeeded in cios.iUuVOU, lii_6 VtUo.U Uioil.3U'OUH OIjCjJ ur iiio- utji'inuns, ior a\ nen me c iuiencau couiiter-aitacK came i win ana strung", tno uniortumue .iuns were ioiCud uacK on 10 the » •ivor, and very lew succeeded in iscapmg to me other side. IN ever , ms an offensive launched with ' mch groat strength been brought o such a speedy conclusionLiudciidurfl' was completely looted. , lie believed that (ienerai Jb'och i would continue the same tactics < mat he had adopted previously, ! Hid would give ground so that lie would be able to nurse his reserves. ' Acting on this supposi- , lion, Ludendorfit' determined to take risks. It has now turned out

that Ludendorfj: "bit off more than lie could chew," as our American cousins would say. Foch changed his tactics completely, and struck buck at once. He assumed the offensive in the Aisne sector and has already made marvellous progress. Foch's Intelligence Department seems to be serving him well, for he was aware of the hour that the Germans intended to attack. The French artillery was therefore

able to catch the Germans assembling in the front trenches preparatory to the attack. The enemy's losses were thus very great. On the other hand, the French abandoned their front line trenches and allowed the Germans to waste ammunition. The German Army is now showing decided signs of the terrible mauling that it has received during the past three or four months. We are constantly told that our aviators see numbers of German troops in hard training behind the lines. These cannot be troops from the Eastern front, for. such men would not require a great den} of preparation before entering the fighting line. They are in all probability fresh drafts hurried to the front to make good the un-

expectedly heavy losses received in the recent offensives. Tlie German Higli Command must know full well that these comparatively untrained troops _ cannot accomplish what the Kaiser's picked regiments failed to do. The men in the American Army are the pick of the manhood of the Great Republic, and therefore, man for man, are more than a match for the soldiers on whom the Germans are now forced to rely. The Huns find the task of bringing up fresh troops growing more difficult as time goes on. The mere approach of a train

brings scores of Allies' aviators on the scene, and there is very little chance of the soldiers in it escaping' the showers of bombs that are dropped from above. Formerly, the enemy did most of the transport of troops at night, but even then it is not safe, for night fliers are sure to be abroad, and the keen eyes of the pilots and observers are always on the look-out for any suspicious movement going on'below them. America now has a large army in France, and their divisions are much stronger than those of the Allies or of the Germans. This fact may have deceived the Germans, who were probably aware that the Americans had a certain number of divisions in a particular sector. They naturally imagined _ that _ the strength of an American division was practically ihe same as that or a British one. The Germans ]-:<;>w better now, but it is too I at:. Lutlftiidorff made a serious miscalculation, and we sincerely trust that his error will be the means of bringing peace much nearer. The are rapidly improving their position

in Russia, and the landing ot Allies' troops on the Human coast will give the Russians who are anxious to rid their country of the German incubus an opportunity to gather and strike a blow for freedom. These arc not the only troubles that the Kaiser has t 0 face —and they are sufficient in all truth. In Albania the FrancoItalians are driving the Austrians before them, and the British, Italian and French armies are now linked up at Monastir. The mountain passes to the north of Italy present an almost insurmountable barrrier to an advance into Austria, but there is another easy road from the Adriatic An army could make its way through Serbia and Montenegro over a terrain that would present, no great military obstacles. Every day the Kaiser sees fresh difficulties in his path. His armies are growing smaller and weaker. His people are suffering from famine and pestilence. The spirit of discontent and revolt is abroad threatening the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs with exile and death. As the weeks pass by fresh enemies are drawn up in the fighting line against the Central Powers. The Kaiser challenged the world, and very few of the civilised nations of the world refused to pick up the gauntlet that Germany had so arrogantly thrown down. Even American's of German descent are opposed to the Kaiser, and the poet Hermann Hagendom, most of whos efamily are in Germany, lias declared: ''The great body of Americans of German origin are absolutely loyal. They know that America is their home, their only possible home henceforth. A good many of them realise that somehow or oilier they have been running on the wrong' track these last three years. -They want to get back to the main line again. They want to feel that they 'belong.' In that mental attiude lies a great opportunity for other Americans. The German-Americans can be won over absolutely by an expression on the part of other Americans of trust ancl desire for friendly co-operation. The Kaiser has always endeavoured to ape ]N T apoleon. As a military genius William has been a complete failure, but he may yet occupy tlie position where Napoleon ended his days—a prisoner on St. Helena alone.

The Pacific Cable Company notify that there will bo delay on messages fox Canada and America. Remnants on all counters at Walker's Sale this week. Boundary fatreet.Advt. Owinj; to -Jthe inclemency of the weather, all football Inatchos set down for to-day were postponed. The cost of the military occupation of Samoa to 31st March this year is £357,982 12s lOd. The Westport Pierrot Society, who present a variety entertainment at Greymouth on the 23rd and 25th hist., appear in the first half of the programme in the costume of French Pierrots and in the second as "Sammies." The remainder of our Furs much under cost price to clear. Squirrel Necklets 13/6, Fur Sets 15/6. 18,6, 30/ to 80/ each set. Also a. few odd Fur Collars, cheap. At Walker's Sale, Boundary Street.— Advt. Not the least attractive of the items

to bo produced by the Westport Pierrot Society at the Opera House on the 23rd and 25th inst., will he the ballet by tlie Juvenile Pierrots who have been specially trained for this tour by Miss M. Harris. Before going out in cold wet weather, take Nazol on sugar. This will keep coughs and colds away. Thousands use Nazol. Sixty doses 1/6.—Advfc. There was a heavy fall of snow along the Otira line this morning. Snow fell at Kokiri for over two hours and from there to Stillwater there was: a depth of two or three inches. In Greymouth there were frequent heavy showers of rain and hail, and the weather was extremely cold. Visitors to Reefton will be pleased to learn that Mr and Mr s F. B. _ Stallard have resumed control of Dawson's Hotel, the leading and acknowledged house for tourists and commercial gentlemen.— Advfc. A football match will take place at Mawheraiti to-morrow, Reefton v. Mawheraiti. The following players will represent Mawheraiti:—Full-back, N. Pcdrazzi; three-quarters, C. McElwee, L. Pedrazzi (centre), A. McElwee; fiveeighths, J. Foster, J. Smith; half-back, S. Gavlor; forwards, J. Burley (wing), W. Lanini, Hannah, R, Fitzgerald, P. Murray, A. Topp (captain), W. Fitzgerald, A. Mclicnnan. Emergencies—-P. Flyhn, W. McYicar. That sleep-spoiling cough can be stop-

ped by Nnaol. Take some drops on sugar. Penetrating and soothing. Solenoid for children.— 1/6 buys 60 doses. —Advt. In connection with the celebrations relative to the piercing of the Otira Tunnel, no flcfinite arrangements have as yet bcow decided upon. Though the ceremonies avo controlled at the Christchurch end it is understood that the Mayor, Mr J. D. Lvnch, is in communication with the Ministerial heads at Wellington with the object of ascertaining what general arrangements arc in contemplation. An announcement to this effect will no doubt be made in a day or so. Ladies' Tweed Coats, big reduction in price at Walker's Sale. Black Astrakhan and Scarlet Coats, new shapes, now only 55/, 65/ and 75/, former prices were £5 to £7 each. Also Tweed Coats from 25/ to 50/ each, worth double. Ladies' Raincoats' only 30/ each, former prices wore 45/ each. Walker's, Boundary Street.—A.dvt. Japan before 1872 had a proportion of 28 per cent, of her children of schoolgoing ago attending school. In 24 years the percentage was raised to 92, and in 28 years education was made free and compulsory. Indian Home Rule propagandists compare these figures with those of India, which show that at the end of 1915 the percentage of children of schoolgoing age in India attending school was 20 4. This, it is pointed out, has been accomplished in 59 years, reckoning from Sir Charles Wood's educational despatch in 1854, which led to the formation of the Education Department in India. Bureaucratic rule is blamed for the backwardness. Still further reductions in All-Wool Costumes at Walker's Sale. Former prices were £6 to £7, now only 60/ and 80/ each. These arc real snips- Boundary Street. —Advt.

The New Zealand housewives who are still inclined to .lie fastidious regarding foodstuffs should bear in mind the conditions existing just now in the Old Country, and be thankful that they are free from the many irksome restrictions which exist under tlie rationing regulations. A "joint" of meat weighing 2£lb s is there something to rejoice over, a.nd a tin of fine, white New Zealand flour a welcome gift We have been shown a sample of English "war flour," dark, coarse, and uninviting, though doubtless quite wholesome. Damped samples of this and local flour placed side by side are as different in appearance as chalk from cheese. - W o are assured that a large quantity of flour, in handy-sized tins, is sent from here to Britain by post. A Is 3d packet of the famous "No Rubbin-" Laundry Help is sufficient for seven weekly family' washings. Truly a wonderful boon to every housewife. Kettle Bros., Greymouth.—Advt. According to the Government Statistician's computations, les s goods (under the three food groups—meat, dairy . produce, and groceries) can be purchased for the sovereign in Whangarci than in any other town in New Zealand. According to the monthly abstract, what could have been •' . . ,-.-• • il.. „.rtnJ IQO.Q-1.1

purchased for £1 in the period l»Utf-io now costs 30s 2d at Whangarei. Taihape is the runner-up, where a. former £1 worth now costs 30s lid. On the same basis the following is what the people in the four centres hav e now to pay for a former 20s worth :—Wellington, 29s A 2 A ; Auckland, 23s 7dj Christchurch, 27s 6id; and Dtmedin, 28s s?d. Under the head; ing "Relative Worth of the Sovereign, Mr Fraser calculates that the sovereign of 1913 is now worth only 13s ll|d, so that, roughly speaking, the value of the sovereign (or rather the £1 not, for sovereigns are now seen but rarely) has depreciated 33 1-3 per cent. The remainder of our Millinery to be sold ;at mere nominal prices. Ladies Hats, former prices were 15/ to 30.. Sale Price now only 3/11, 5/11 and 9/11 each. At Walker's "Sale, Boundary Street.— Advt. News of the assassination of General n>-i Mirbaeh, German Ambassador to Russia, has revived in the mind of an old Wellingtonian recollection of a Dr von Mirbaeh, at one time resident in New Zealand, and who is believed to have been a brother of the German Ambassador. Dr von Mirbaeh was in practice in Wellington over 30 years ago, and afterwards moved to Waipawa "Later he left the tdoniinion, and when last heard of was surgeon on an Atlantic liner. Ho had a brother in tho German diplomatic service, and another brother a surgeon on the Russian ship-of-war Vesnik, which made a sudden appearance in Wellington Harbour some 30 ycar s aso, at a time when the Russian scare was the sensation of the hour. Dr von Mirbaeh was a powerfully-built man, considerably over Oft in height, and was esteemed a clever man in his profession. He was employed on two or three occasions •en Government commissions inquiring into medical and health questionsExtraordinary Purchase of 36G Ladies' Felt, Velour, 'Plush and Black Hats, mostly smart ready-to-wears, id newest shapes apd colourings. Usual prices 15/6 to 37'6; McGruer's Sale liico 5/117/ill to 9/11. Visit McGruer «nd Co.'s Extraordinary Sale. Bargains in all departments (late MeKag and • Sons).— Advt. For Influenza take Woods' Great Pepper, mint Cure. Neves fails. 1/6, 2/6. At*.

The 37th "Reinforcements have reached their destination. The 38th have been reported all well, and, the 39ths have reached a port of call, all well. 1

The ferry steamer Maori failed, to connect with the West Coast expiess ttiis, morning, and therefore Noitii Island mai.s will not arrive here to-night.

The funeral of the late Mr Andrew Cummng took place on Thursday afternoon. There was a Mery large followng, friends coming from all parts of the district, the Rev. P. R. Eraser conducting the services. A number of wreaths were placed on the grave side, including tokens from the public bodies with which deceased had been connected. Mother's! ' Save money by getting Nazol—the best family remedy for coughs and colds. Sixty doses for 1/6 more than three a penny.—Advt.

The heavy snow on the back country in Westland has been particularly severe on the sheep. On stationowner lost nearly 500 sheep and another owner also lost several hundred.

The funeral of the late Mrs Adam Blair took place this morning, the remains being brought by train from her late homo in Patara. There was a very largo attendance, friends coming from all parts of the district to pay the last tribute of Tespect to the deceased. The service at the grave was taken by the Rev. Mr Wallace, Blackball. For Children's Hacking Cough at night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure 1/6.