Grey River Argus. and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1917, Page 2

Grey River Argus. and Blackball News

Delivered avery inorting 1 in GrejTiioutli, Kumnrn, Hokitika, Dobsou, Wallseiu 1 I'uylorville, Croiiaduu, Ngahere, Blackball, Nelson- Creek, Bruiiner, Te Kingha, Rotoiivaui: Poeriui, luchboiiuie, Fatara, Buru, Kaimuta, Kotukii, Moaiia, Aratika, Buuonga, Dunollie, Cobdeii, Baxter's, Kokiri, Ahaura, Ikamntua, Stillwater, Waiuta, ami Reeftou

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1917. THE BRITISH AT BULLECOTJRT.

THE fighting oh the British front in' the West must now have reached the maximum in fierceness in places like Bullecourt, and though the enemy is in strength, his tenure of Northern France seems to be nearing an. end. The losses, from all accounts, have been extremely heavy during the past month, while the remarkable fact has been disclosed by Mr. Bonar Law in the House of Commons that the losses on our side have been from 50 to 75 per cent smaller than in the Battle of the Somme. Long ago the Germans predicted that this would be an artillery war and such it has proved. Little did they think at the time that the Allies would be able to catch up to them in artillery strength ; much less surpass them as they have done. We learn from Sir William Robertson that the expenditure of ammunition on the British front in Prance has amounted to the enormous total of 200,000 tons during the past five or six weeks. When it is remembered that this is equal to thirty times the amount of coal' exported from this port last week, some idea may. be gain 1 od of the awfulness of the struggle, and the great strength of the German defensive 'works. Shells are indeed the greatest factor in this scientific conflict but there is a still greater factor — the spirit of the men. We have had much news of the Australinns lately at Bulleeourt — who, by the way, were officially announced by the Hon. W. M. Hughes in the Federal ►Senate, to have been withdrawn owing to lack of reinforcements — and their perseverance and bravery make a thrilling page in a great history. Nearly a fortnight ago these brave men pushed forward up to the Hindenburg line, t^he position upon which the enemy seems to be staking everything. They secured a grip, and they have managed to hang on, though severely tried by heavy counter-attacks. Later the Scottish troops secured a hold and linked up with the Australians. So valuable have these two bites proved that the British have been able to secure a firm hold of Bullecourt, which is one of "the most vital points of the much- vaunted line. The , fighting in that quarter is sure to be very severe for a time, and it may possibly happen that the British will have to withdraw temporarily as is the case at Fresnoy. The outstanding fact, however, remains— namely that the, British have the power to take almost any position, with a minimum of loss in men. The swaying of the battle will continue for awhile, but each day brings the time nearer when a great dole will be torn in the enemy 's lines, and he will have to move very sharply to escape disaster. Many people ask how it is that the enemy is not being pushed back faster than at present. They want to see some miles of country released daily, and then the idea of victory would appeal more forcibly, to them. Let us think for a moment what the position really is. Firstly, the enemy has prepared for many of .them being several feet untish offensive; he has built an enormous system of powerful 'fortresses, many of them being several fee underground; he has so arranged tunnels and passage-ways that the utmost shelter is provided, while whole battalions of men can move to any given point in a minimum of time. It is very unlikely that he did a;ll this if he did not intend to hold out to the bitter end. Secondly, the enemy has to think hard to find good and sufficient reasons for keeping the German ' people quiet. He can point to the partial success of his submarines, and we- have to admit that they constitute a very serious menace, but he cannot point to any theatre where he is able to take the initiative. Really, Germany on land is technically beaten. Tt is her place .to do the attacking seeing that she entered upon a war 3f aggression. True, she holds nearly j the whole of Belgium and a large , strip of France, and while she does that her people may be more or less satisfied that she is in a winning position. Probably the answer to any ■ complaints at the present time would be something like this: Germany has done great work. Look at the terri' tory she has secured in Europe. Hindenburg cannot be expected to go on |' ; indefinitely with the world against \him. If the people will but endure .and weather the present storm, which represents the Allies' maximum . efr fort, then Germany will be able to hold put against everybody. The German people would accept some sort of argument like that, and every effort ; would be ma;de to hold the line. A I withdrawal to the Rhine though from the German military point of view a great advantage, in. that it would shorten the line by about half, would mean a great loss of morale not only among the German troops, but among the people in Germany. Looked at from the enemy's side we can much reason behind the enemy's leaders in continuing the present defence. From Sir Douglas Haig's point of view there is also good reason for carrying the line forward step by step. This method retains a long enemy front, and gives the British more freedom of movement. Then the transport question has to be studied, and slow progress enables greater concentrated artillery power than rapid advancing. Again the slow methodical plodding of the British has an influence on the Germans, causing them to throw in great reserve forces, which are thus more rapidly being accounted for. We may expect a continuance of .the slow • methods for some time yet, until other j vital parts in the Hindenburg line ' have been taken and the enemy's! forces so reduced in strength that j there can be no doubt of the success of .a final rapid and extensive ad- ■ vance, which will completely over- ! whelm the much" punished regiments of the Kaiser. The general hope is that that time is near at hand. "Vfe believe that all the severe fighting of the present is but leading up to one terrific blow, but obviously there must not be the slightest chance of that blow failing in it results. There can be no second blow if by any chance : the first one fails. ' :■