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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 216, 14 August 1918, Page 4

Tn order to realise fullv tin change that Ims fwni: <-V'-r the outlo-. k. tor rh-? Allies—an outlook that may yet ’.are strong shadows t’lmn a,i,.ss t—we have only to i-a>l- <i g’nm.' rwk to the time. ga o d". I .-''rtA igo, when the Gei'iuans wry adear,cilia over the very gioimd., between Momdidier ami the 01 tv, iroui

which they are now being pushed by the French under General Humbert. The Crown Prince’s advance to the Marne had already constituted a serious threat to the safety of the French capital, and the success attending the inception of von Hillier's co-operative thrust west of the Oise had accentuated the sense of appre hension to such an extent that steps were taken for the removal of its women and children and for the organisation of resistance to a siege. The press of Paris found itself in the position that, while it had .to prevent- the arousing of anything like panic, it had also io impress the people with the gravity of the situation sufficiently to justify the steps then in contemplation. Probably no better example of the deftness with which this double purpose, was achieved will be found than in an article which appeared in the “Matin” on June Oih from the pen of M. Brunet, the Socialist Deputy of Paris. “It would be dangerous,” he wrote, “and indeed unpardonable if even the worst possibilities. we may have to face before the arrival of the strong American force weighs down the balance of effectives in our favour were not considered now. The Germans, by a fresh offensive, prosecuted without any regard to losses, may, if they do not get into Paris, at any rate perhaps get near enough to the capital to be able to bombard it with their long-distance guns, not in th? intermittent manner of ‘Bertha,’ but methodically and continuously. In such conditions industrial life would become impossible, and for the success of our Armies the Government’s will to resist must not be weakened by fear of sacrificing the lives of non-combatants, or of consequences which would result from the halt in our manufacture of war materials. So long as Germany desires to impose her dominion by force no peace is possible, and it is our duty to fight and conquer. Everything must be subordinated to this idea, and more than ever resistance means -victory. Paris, condemned thus to wait, may become the very heart of that resistance. It is thus that, in order to save France and the world, the great city, speaking through her representatives who met yesterday, declared herself prepared to make the last sacrifice.” He pointed out that although the Army enjoyed complete confidence, it was well to consider all the steps likely to increase the resisting power of Paris, and to nlace women, children, and old people in security, and he continued : — “As the Deputies stated yesterday. Paris cannot be abandoned ; if it is necessary she must be defended with the last energy, for Paris is the great stronghold in which the fate of the country mav be settled, and everything must be brought into nlay to preserve the citv intact.” Today our fears for Paris have virtually disappeared, and, according to oui '■ables. even "Bertha.” or one of her f oul sisters, is under the fire of French field pieces.

Hoxx' the people of Great Britain were being prepared for the possibility of a. virtual investnieut o.‘ Paris —as the people of Germany arc now being prepared for the possibility of further enforced reiii•ements >y their armies— is seen in the despatches coining from press correspondents at liie front. liiun which the following passages may In culled: ‘‘Tiie situation is c \ blent lv not one tor premature, congratula lion, but tin- energy and dash ex it I. .vliicli the French troops nre conTantly returning t.> tne attack aim fighting each step of the enemy ~ ml .•ain'C justify the reasoned confi lance displayoJ by the I'rcin h Pre.-s--to-day. It would, however, la foolish to deny that Paris is follc.u ng the phases of the but'Jo v ii lertiiig heart. But Paris, L-rtuna ?ly. is nut content t > remain a mcrmissive spectator while her fate iu'ing settled. She is busy preparin,. to play her part if u.a-a'imi si.im!. irise. The Committee appointed l>.'■I. Clemenceau to study and eon trol. under Ins authority, the men '.tires to be taken to defend th

■apital is at. woi'k.” Then again •vriting after the fiast day of vm llutier’s off; nsive had passed xx it appreciable gains to the enemy

The German advance lias b;.?i -topped along the Marne, and tin 'iiemy lias imw endeavoured to finu upon the Noyon-Montdiilier Jine tin ither road of approach to tl,. capital. • . . Reserves are then to meet him, and, ii’ithongh it is, ui

course, possible—everything is pos silj’.e in war—that the Alites ma.x have to give ground, there is m reason whatever to suppose, that tins fresh offensive will lead the ik-nnam anv nearer to their main objective than the last two. In any case, om thing is certain ; that is, that Paris will be defended to the last. We sliaiin all probability check the enemy's advance in front of (.ompiegne, a.we have in front of Amiens. And. ii not. If it still goes on towards Paris, even if Paris itself were to be bom barded, the iesolution of the French .Army would suffer not the slightest, change. They mean to go on till the war is won. That is t.i>e answer to the people—if any such people exist outside Germany—who question their resolve to go on enduring and fighting to the very end.” There is not so very great, "a. difference between the note of these writings and that of the extracts from the German. press cabled us to-day. There is this difference?, however, that their prospects of ultimate relief are visionary, while ours were then, and have, now been proved to. be, most convincingly real. Our anxieties were for the moment, Germany’s must be for the end.