THE NIEUPORT SET-BACK

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 13 July 1917, Page 7

THE NIEUPORT SET-BACK

MILITARY CRITICS' OPINIONS

NOTHING TO~WORRY ABOUT

(Received July 13, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 12. Military critics point out that the Nieuport set-back comes as a surprise, but its importance must not be over*'estimated. Tlie British had only recently taken over the Dunes sector, and the heavy gale on Tuesday possibly necessitated the temporary absence of the warships supporting the army. It has been for long evident that either side, after adequate artillery preparation, is able to gain temporary possession of a v small section of trenches. Big German guns established on the Dunes made Tuesday's success comparatively simple. When the Yser bridges \yere~oroken the British battalions holding the sector were unable to resist longer, and repulse of the enemy ajc Lombaertzyde proves that the German success was only local. general Hindenburg has not the slightest hope of breaking the British line at Nieuport, and .the real reason for the attack was thajt the Germans were becoming fearful of an allied advance along the coast. Accordingly they had collected troops, intending to forestall a British attack or preparing to withdraw .elsewhere on the line.