THE WAR SITUATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4964, 3 September 1918, Page 5

THE WAR SITUATION

OFFICIAL WEEKLY REVIEW.

PROGRESS MADE BY ALLIES

MOST IMPORTANT.

HUNS HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SHORTEN LINE.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. The following telegraphic review of the general war situation for the week ended August 30, has been received by the Acting Prime Minister from the British Ministry of Information :

On the British front the advance has been continued along the whole line from the Somme to the Scarpe and on the left flank. North of the Scarpe Gavrelles and Arleuex Ngohelle have been captured and south of the Scarpe we gained Cherisy and Fontaire and les Croisilles.. These places had not before been in British hands. Our advance here has carried us two miles east of the furthest line ever reached in 1917. Most important progress has been made by the French between Rove and the Oise. Bapaume has fallen to the British and Novon to the French. It seems evident that the enemy intends retiring to a shorter line to obtain a better defensive position and economise troops. He will probably retire to the Hindenburg line but will endeavour to postpone this course until the weather conditions renders active operations impracticable. He will probably make a stand west of the Hindenburg line. The events will show whether he will be allowed to retire gradually according to bis plan. Ihe British advance on either side of the fecarpe is already a serious threat to tins line and the enemy cannot allow ns to advance much further here without endangering his gradual reulenient. This explains Jbe determined resistance on this part of the The British advance is theicioic highly important though the ultimate aspect is iiot yet known. The enemy resistance is very unequal, Rome divisions exhibited their old determination; others surrendered freely. It is necessary to guard against exaggerated expectations of « German collapse; nevertheless the fighting for the past month shova notable deterioration of * he i;^W an morale and increasing indiscipline insubordination and disobedience to orders.

THE HUNS’ DEATH ROLL. To estimate that the German losses in dead from the beginning of the war would largely be conjectural but the figure is certainly well over two millions. Between August 21 and 26, the British captured 21,000 prisoners. Our total losses only exceed slightly this figure. The total captured by th e British since August 8 exceed 47.000; and the guns captured over bOO. The Allied since July 18 exceed 100,000 uith 2000 guns. The ofncially-mspned German press still proceed to explain away the Allied offensive. Solf’s recent speech indicates tlie German Government’s I c^ | a ‘ l^ d , te t fl per. Solf asserted in 1914 that the struggle with England was for the spoils of victory which must be no light ones. His tone now is more conciliatory for he rep rub am. < . intention of retaining Belgium ant pars lip homage to the League or Nations idea and discovers apparently that international law is a burning question for humanity. At the recent meeting or the Lmpe. ors no final Polish agreement was reached. Each hopes to obtain Polish support-, hut to permit the choice to _ the I°j • Austria offers Austrian and Poland to Germany on an extt nded frontier at the expense of Rusaa and Lithuania. The results of these negotiations as published in T manv are now accepted by the Ait- - trians. Bursan advocates the incorporation of Poland with Galicia as- part of the Hapsburg Monarchy. German democrats object to the multiplication of thrones dependant on the Hohenzollern nod as likely to cause future complications and as being due to tli e unsatisfied aspirations of the democracies concerned. The Lord Mayor of London’s visit to Italy had a beneficial effect upon the relations between the two countries and great friendliness towards Great Britain was manifested in Ins receptions and on returning lrom the front. . , On Monday M. Clemenceau issued a hopeful and'inspiring message to the Presidents of the- Departmental Councils expressing profound regret on the retirement of Ambassador Page. Leading English journals pay a handsome tribute to tlie ex-Ambas-sador’s work. . , August 2-8 was the anniversary ol Roumania’s entry into the war and despite Solf’s assertion that Roumania’s happiness would be attained by neutrality the Roumanians- re-o-ard the war as the natural sequel to their national development and are confident of ultimate Allied victory.

ALLIES’ BRILLIANT AIR WORK

The last week was notable for the , large number of raids bv the British on Belgium and on the Blmie. The progress of the.air fighting shows considerable intensity on the West front. British airmen took a P'°-. minent and successful part m the recent battles in France- Besides an immense number of photographic reconnaisances. bombing raids and patrol work they rendered assistance throughout the battle by liarassinl the retreating, enemy from the air, silencing and impeding batteries and attacking isdated ce - tres of resistance.. Low height macii ines also supplied ammunition by an to the advanced units Ihe Butis airmen also attacked railway junctions at Douai V aien ciennee, Morcoing-Cambrai an Somnin causing much damage and nv Over 260 tons of bombs were dropped on .the West, iront and 95 enemy machines dcstioy ea and 39 downed during the week. 34 Sit, in tl“ northern coastal re- & - ‘ te SbnMinir Successful “mid, So SoynSlo - OtSS Glustellc. - separate raids into force - carried 30 sep , . the German territou, at £ a< Jj a f the enemy aerodiome j. t g * the radway tnaiigle at M^^a rin heim ; the chemical lactones railway aerodromes at BtdiLJ a tFranUSftUS YSwne the/‘chemical factory at So a ruble, the aerodjomejit Eolpersresulted to the Extensu e u.m » , pr „ we iler and hangars fired at boipeisucne fires and explosions were obseivt « Saar able. Two-ton bombs were drop--52d m a single raid at Mannheim, explosions occasioning extonsrve firts. A .noison gas factory was at tacked .during the aooonf »«'« fe^narro^avoidea.tho dronning many bombs and niin 0 many thousands of rounds of machine gun ammunition with good effectNine machines were destroyed and one downed and two British machines are reported missing.