The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4827, 26 March 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1918.

The reports which have come to hand during the past How the Huns twenty-four hours are Faring. disclose the important fact that the Hun offensive is still unabated. It will be noted that north-west of Bapaume the enemy has hardly proved as successful as in his attacks south of that point. His new line is approximately from St. Loger (which stands about six miles south-west of Arras) across to the north of Bapaume and then along through Peronne down to Ham (which lies a few miles south-west of St. Quentin). If Hindenburg is to be believed his main objective is Paris, but strategically he is, of course, aiming at causing a break between the British and the French armies. No doubt he hopes to break through to the west of Soissons, which town, by the way, has, since the famous Hun retreat from the Marne, been the portion of 'his lino nearest to the French capital. It is true that the enemy has, temporarily, made good his .losses which followed the struggle known as the fight 'for Cambrai, but he has more than as far again to push forward if lie .is to succeed in regaining the losses which he made in connection with the Battle of the Somme. As far as the Allies are concerned the chief thing that matters is unquestionably the maintenance of their line. That was what saved the Allies on the occasion of the Huns’ initial rush on Paris in the early stages

of the war. For the Huns a break in the Allied line over a short width would be futile. What Hindenburg clearly aims at is the making of a wide, deep gap, which state of affairs, he may consider would so disorganise the Allies as to rob them of the chance ol making a powerful counter-attack on both flanks or on either hand. He may hold that, in such an event, the Allies may rush so many troops round from either flank with a view to repairing the gap that it may prevent them setting up a powerful counter-attack at any point on either flank. But the Huns have not broken the Allied line—they have merely dented it over a comparatively short distance —so that there is no pressing need to discuss at length what Hindenburg hopes to do in the event of a tragic surprise which all will sincerely trust the enemy may never succeed in effecting. It is, after all, simply a question as to which side has the most resources in man-power and gun-power and in the case of the enemy, he, being the attacking party, must hopelessly tail and quickly lose all his fresh gains Unless he can show a margin of superiority which it cannot be believed he possesses. On the important question of the resources available on either side experts seem to differ, but it is consoling to find that none try to make out that the Huns have even an appreciable advantage over the Allies. Colonel Feyler, the eminent Swiss military expert, in a review of the situation some days ago. went so far indeed, as to declare that despite the Russian so-called peace tlie Huns can only muster on the West Front a million less soldiers than in 1914. What is best, however, is not to under-estimate the enemy strength and accept the opinion of the British “High Military Authority” who has stated- that the Huns are now stronger on the West Front -than at any period hitherto but that they are not as strong as the combined Allied armies. If such be the real position—and we believe it is, so —limv can Hindenburg-hope j to see fulfilled bis promise that the Huns will be in Paris by April 1. There can be no question that- this is a supreme test as between the rival sides, but it by no means follows that it will be the final battle of the great war. As far as can be made out the Huns have about one and a quarter million troops engaged in the present gigantic operations and maybe the Allies have not as yet so many participants in the conflict because they will be holding back their main reserves until the hour is reached when it is intended to stem the advancing Hun tide and commence a counter-offensive. The news, so far. is all in favor of the Allies in that it shows not only that the Allied line is being firmly maintained but that the Huns have been slowed clown in their advance right from the outset.' As far as can be made out the struggle that is now raging may not be of short duration. In tile ease of the enemy it- is plainly his final attempt to beat the Allies on the West Front and it may be reckoned that troops will not be spared in the effort-. We may be mistaken but- we believe that the main fighting will be restricted to the- Somme and thereabouts. There is, of course, a widespread opinion, on the other liaud. that the French may commence a counter-offensive at- this stage on their own account. But in this connection it has to be borne in mind that the Allied War Council is bound to insist that every spare gun and every spare man on other portions of the Front shall be sent to reinforce the threatened section of the Allied line. By all accounts the Huns have paid very dearly for their advance — and that is the most satisfactory aspect of the whole matter. Let one and all he strong in the belief that Sir Douglas Haig has made arrangements to give them an even hotter reception during the next few days!