THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17390, 30 January 1917, Page 4

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Jy speaking of Germany's campaign In the spring being purely defensive, tho Paris journal "Lo Matin" probably does not intend to bo taken literally. The German strategy insists that tho test defence i& always founded on an anticipatory offensive, and this has been stated in another way by General Poch, who declares that the weaker force must always be striking. When Napoleon was fighting his campaign in France preceding his exile to Elba, ho was continually on the offensive, striking the enemies that were closing in "on him wherever the opportunity •offered. .Weakened forces on the defensive, it is urged by the strategical experts, cannot afford to permit their "more powerful enemies to choose tho time and place at which to launch their blow. The German general staff, by anticipating the enemy's attack, seeks to decrease the weight o£ the blow.

and to obtain the advantage of fighting on the most suitable ground. The terrible losses at Verdun may have modified the Gorman- view of this strategy, but tile Crown Prince's effort at Verdun became more than a defensive offensive. Committed to the task of taking Verdun, for political as well as for military reasons, the German staff continued with, the attack long after the possibility of profitable success had disappeared. It nfttst bo rcmembored, too, that tiio Allied generals have insisted that the long pauses between the German efforts at Verdun gave the French the time they needed to. prepare for the Gorman attacks. These costly tactics were improved on in the Allied offensive on the Somme and it must be conceded that the German staff appreciated the faults as well as the Allies. The campaign of 1917 for Germany will be defensive, but it is going too far to say that the enemy will discard its policy of defending by attacking. The news from the various fronts this morning is meagre, but it is interesting to notice that tho Austrians have boon pressed bacjc near the Bulcowina border. In Mesopotamia tho British force continues its methodical progress.