THE WAR SITUATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4898, 18 June 1918, Page 5

THE WAR SITUATION

BRITISH OFFICIAL WEEKLY REVIEW. WILL HUN USE HIS MAIN RESERVE? ORIGINAL PLAN QUITE UPSET. Press Association Telegram WELLINGTON. June 17 The following telegraphic review of the war situation lias been .received by the Governor-General from tho -Secretary of State for the Colonies for the week ending loth June: The German idea of world peace is illustrated by her recent manoeuvres in Russia, Roumania. and Finland. A similar process is taking place in the Caucasus. ' Attempts to establish an independent Caucasian republic in which Christians and Mohammedans alike will share are tin ea tened by . the advance of Turk-rsh-German forces which have continued during the progress of peace negotiations. An independent Georgian republic lias' been proclaimed. Germany’s object is to completely separate that all-important district from Russia and bring it completely into her economic and military system. Probably with this object Latum, which was previously promised to Turkey, has been assigned to the new Georgian State, giving Germany control oi the Black Sea oilfields, similar to the oilfields in Roumania, and a base for the penetration of Central Asia. Austrian conditions continue to grow worse. According to the Weser Zeitung, the Vienna burgomaster recently declared:—

The faults of our Governments of the last centuries bitterly avenge themselves. High treason and boundless ingratitude are now rampant and the Government proves weak and unsteady. The supreme duty of the German parties is to show a united-front against Slav treachery.” The Austrian weakness enables Germany to reduce Austria do the position of a vassal State. The new treaty fetters Austria for a generation. It proposes to complete the unification of the two armies, the coordination of mobilisation, munitioniug, transports, food supply and the merging of economic resources. The German policy of domination has increasingly proved to be a menace to the freedom of all countries. The United States is daily taking an increased part in the conflict. The American war spirit has only been accentuated by the sinking of ships off the American coast, the tonnage of which will soon be replaced many times over. The enemy offensive in the: Aisne salient was definitely arrested on the evening of Monday, June 3. On .the two following days enemy attempts to advance further were se-. verely punished, and the French regained certain tactical points.. The Crown Prince was obliged either to abandon the operation or to bring up considerable reserves from other parts of the Front or to start a complementary offensive elsewhere. The latter course was evidently decided oil. THE WEST FRONT. At dawn on Sunday, June 9, the enemy opened an attack on Mont'di-dier-Noyon front with fifteen divisions, three of which were from Prince Rupprecht’s reserves. The Allied Higher Command was fullv prepared. Some ground was gained bv the first shock to the maximum depth of four miles in the centre, while the flanks held firm. The enemv losses were exceedingly lieavv. On "the second day. wilti proportionately even greater losses, the enemy gained only another two miles in the centre while the flanxs still held. The Carlepont salient, bein o- endangered, the French withdrew their line at that point, fightinf a clever rearguard action and dealinf severely with the enemy, who attempted pursuit along the No-vou-Compeigne road. .The French left counter-attacked simultaneously and regained a considerable strip of e-round. Fierce fighting continues. It is again evident the enemy can achieve no decision here without heavy calls on his reserve divisions from other parts of the front. Hie main enemv reserve is on Prince Rupprecht’s front between toe Somme and the sea and is still un to How does the enemy intend to rise this reserve? The enemy is certainly determined to. force a decision before the end of 1918. The original main objective was the destruction of the Allied armies bv strategical penetration in the Allied centre < Amiens while drawing the reserve outwards to the two flanks and the operations of March April and May were undoubtedly all part of this P Germany has drawn heavily from everv source and is unaole to again reconstruct her arnufis to their present strength. the A - lies must make every possible man available to maintain the armies to full strength. This applies equally to the Dominions, whose con- . tingents are among our first troops. This will enable Allied ! armies with the full-sized fresli American army added to end tee war with a decisive victory. FOOD PROBLEM.

The Ministry for Food reports that the International Scientific Com mis- , sion, after meeting at Paris and at Home, is now sitting in London. The Commission has already reached valuable conclusions. Hie minimum. food requirements of the ayeiago man lias been computed for the Af- j lied countries. The Commission Ims recommended a uniform average milling extraction to be adopted as far as possible throughout Allied countries. Men should always ta».e. preference over animals in the allocation of food. The Government’s registration of tea dealers throughout the United Kingdom has been completed, and a basis of two ounces for each member of a customer’s family has been fixed. Milk prices have been increased by four pence per gallon. Except as regards fruit the Home harvest prospects are good. The fruit crop is expected to be seriously short and the tonnage available for importation to supply the deficiency will be essential. Efforts at self-denial exercised in Canada and the United States have resulted in substantial increases of cereal and. other imports. The rationing gives genera\ satisfaction and the evidence sliou ? s no increased consumption of bread or other unrationed articles. AIR OFFENSIVE. The Air Ministry reports considerable aerial activity for the past week on the West Front, especially in the, battle zone, fine weather favoring our aerial operations. Mist has somewhat hampered reconnaissance work. Nevertheless an immense •number of aerial photographs have been taken, during close and distant • reconnaissances. Bombing operations into Germany were carried out with vigor, 17 raids being undertaken, of which five were on Metz and 'five on Diedenhofen. Coblenz was also raided during the week. Approximately 20 tons of bombs were dropped on German territory. Our aircraft co-operated with Trench aviators in .bombing enemy tail junctions, roads and concentration P °in t the air fighting 63 German machines were brought down and o 3 driven down out of control, and 20 of our aeroplanes failed to return to their aerodromes. On the Balkans front hostile ammunition and. supply dumps m the Struma Valley were subjected to Sequent ‘heavy raids.