EXPERT COMMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 5 August 1918, Page 5

EXPERT COMMENT.

SITUATION BETTER THAN COULD HAVE BEEN HOPED FOR. ENEMY CASUALTIES OF THE HEAVIEST. I LONDON, Aug. 3. Military circles state that the Germans have now put in 72 divisions in ' the latest attempt, including eleven I from Prince Rupprecht's army. Eight of the latter hav c been in the line twice. The Germans have used the equivalent of eighty divisions since July 15. The Allies have used nothing like "that number. The main enemy difficulty is to keep battalions up to strength. The Allies' reserves in this quarter ar e larger! than the enemy's j Critics declare, that in the face of the ' latest delevopments it does not matter whether we kill Germans southward or northward of the Aisne. The situation generally is satisfactory, and beyond the most optimistic calculations of a I Few weeks ago. j The completeness of the success is' avidenced by the fact that the FrancoBritish batteries at eight o'clock were astablished on ground from which they 3egan to drive the enemy at four. The ?nemy were only able to use artillery j :o the smallest extent, and compelled :o rely upon machine guns, which were ! steadily silenced. ' j The German casualties were of the' leaviest. Their bravery is unquestionible, to the point of hopelessness. The idvance showed splendid combination imong the Anglo-French and Americans. | The Crown Prince's offensive may be •egarded as collapsed, at least until September, when the newest German re:ruits will appear in the field. —Aus.\.Z. Cable Association. t