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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 252, 17 August 1917, Page 4

The marvellous recuperative powers of the French nation were strikingly exemplified after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 by the speed with which the vast money indemnity imposed by her conquerors was liquidated —a speed which only aroused in Bismarck’s breast a life-long regret that he had not doubled the amount of his demand. That the same fine resilient spirit still exists and i.as suffered little dimunition from the later German atrocities in Northern France is shown by th«? promptitude with which our Allies, even with the conduct of a big war still on hand, have set to work to restore the devastated districts. This subject js dealt with in a vivid way by Mr. Henry Wood, the correspondent at French headquarters of the United Press of America. Less than three months ago, he say?, the French armies took back fron. the Germans 1000 square kilometres of French soil, blasted, blackened, and devastated. To-day, under the magic touch of the French armies, who know both how to fight and how to work, this thousand square kilometres of redeemed France is blooming and blossoming like a rose. To a person who passed through this district the day after the German hordes had passed, and who passes there to-day, the change almost surpasses human belief. It presents a miracle that only the Freneh and its painstaking industry could have performed. One has the vivid impression that the Very soil ofFrance, overjoyed at its deliverance from the Teutonic bond, rejuvenated at finding itself again integrally a part of France, has given forth a fertility and a productiveness that make its sister districts seem weak and pale. Entering the sunny, smiling, verdant district for the first time since the German devastations a person’s first startling question to himself is ‘ Did the Germans really destroy anything?’.’ It seems humanly impossible that the change could be wrought in less than, three, months.

Mr. Wood goes on to say, However, that it does not take long to be vividly reminded of all the devastation that actually’ occurred. In the restoration that has taken place it has naturally been imperative to confine all efforts merely to those things necessary for the successful continuation of the military operations and for rendering the land as productive as possible for the continued alimentation of the entire population. As a consequence nothing has been done towards restoring the ruined towns, villages, and farmhouses. These still present on every hand their gutted, blackened walls; but the original impression of unutterable devastation created by them is immensely softened by the fact that they are now almost hidden in waving grainfields, smiling vineyards, and blossoming orchards that seem to present the miracle of miracles. To a person who passed through this district three months ago and saw mile after mile of hewndown orchard trees, the presence of these blossoming orchards seems beyond the comprehension of the human intellect. One has the startling impression that the trees have all grown up ’again. A close examination, however, shows that what has really happened is that the French soldiers, working under the direction of French generals who know other things than mere military operations, have found a way of saving thousands of trees. They were dressed with grafting preparations and trimmed off in a scientific manner so as to conserve the sap and prevent the death of the 'roots. The miracle that has been wrought is the more striking when one remembers the great piles of agricultural implements the Germans destroyed. Practically, all the work has been done by soldiers. As they pass, either going to or from the front, they stop and dedicate the day to the cultivation of the redeemed fields. The next day they pass on, and other troops resume the work. It is all for France and for the ultimate victory.

It has to be remembered in connection with Mr.. Wood’s statements above quoted that for long the German Commander-in-Chief has set himself specially to the task of “bleeding France white,” and has from the outset, as a matter of fixed policy having regard both to the war and after, been devoting himself particularly to the reduction of her man-power. It is some considerable time, indeed, since the enemy commenced assiduously to spread the belief that France had already been bled white, and that her loss of man-power would shortly compel her to seek a separate peace. It was at first all a part of Germany’s regular propaganda, and was no doubt intended to create ill-feeling. between the French and British, especially during the days preceding the adoption of conscription in England. Enemy agents spread the story in neutral countries, and not a few French peasants near the Swiss border had the tale dinned into their ears from the early days of the war that England was only playing at war while France was being bled white. At the time of the Verdun offensive there were signs that Germany was beginning to be affected by her own poison, and the Press and people took up the cry that France had' been bled white, and that the attacks at Verdun were mainly directed towards smashing the remaining power of the French armies. The way in which Germany has directed nearly all her Western offensive effort against the French section, while in most cases merely defending herself on the British section, during the present year has suggested that she still relies on France’s weakness to enable her to counter British efforts farther north. So far, however, the French have exhibited no such sign of weakness as would afford any real gratification to the German leaders, and the repeated shrewd blows which Sir Douglas Haig has been, able to deliver from the British front must necessarily have greatly relieved the pressure on our Allies.

The comparative silence of the last few days with regard to the British lines in the West was broken by a late-receive‘d message yesterday informing us th it # Sir Douglas . Haig had resumed his offensive in the neighbourhood north of Lens, on what was described as “a wide, front, but which from the terminals named does not appear to exceed two miles. The further messages received since show that the operation has been so far entirely successful, a very’ definite advance, including several strong positions in the purliens of Lens itself and further north, having fallen into our hands. As in the latest movements south of the town, the Canadians would appear to have taken a prominent part in the battle now being reported and to have again exhibited singular dash and daring, more, especially in the capture of Hill 70, which had been converted into a veritable fortress. The Germans, of course, launched numerous and violent counter-attacks in a vain endeavour to retake the lost positions, which seem now to be in permanent British occupation. The easternmost position taken lies slightly east of due north of Lens, which is gradually being left in a narrow loop that will render it quite untenable. The reduction of this town has been a long job, and cannot yet be taken as absolutely completed, but the task of the garrison holding it must for Long have been a heart-breaking one, subjected as it has no doubt been to incessant bombardments from three sides. Almost simultaneously with theenterprise northwards of Lens the British have also followed up the repulse of German counter-attacks in the vicinity of Ypres by another assault on the enemy’s positions, which have been penetrated, the French on the British left there reporting that they are keeping pace with the movement. The German reports are gratifyingly brief and vague, hiding, as usual, the actual result of the fighting which they say is “still proceeding,” nothing of actual loss being admitted. The only other activity reported from the Western theatre consists of an enemy attack north of Verdun which was resultless. The only news from the eastern arena comes through a German channel, but, having regard to the known previous position, must, until refuted, be accepted as correct. It indicates that the Russo-Rumanians on the river fronts in Moldavia are still being forced back by Mackensen’s reinforced army, ana does not afford any reassurance as to the situation on that section. There is, however, no word of the enemy continuing bis advance from the Galician border.