NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17587, 18 September 1917, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR.

According to a German communique the British, using armoured ears and flame-throwers, attacked on a. front of about a. mile at Cherisv, but wero thrown out of the German trenches after hand-to-haud fighting. The enemy’s report adds that a second attempt broke down. On the face of it this looks to have been a local action of some importance, for while flameprojectors might well be Used in a simple raid it seems rather extravagant ■to employ tanks, either big or little But the British communique specifically refers to both the enterprises a.s raids. In tho first attack the enemy’s dofences were wrecked and seventy men were killed in the dug-outs, and in tho second tho attackers “ ponetrated far into the western outskirts ” of Chorisy. It would seem, therefore, that while tho Germans imply that the first of tho attacks was the important one, it was really the second that counted most. The enemy calls them attacks, that failed, the British claim them to have been raids that succeeded. Possibly they mark the revival of activity on a sector that has been comparatively quiet of late.

It was during the last phase of tho Arras battle that tho British surged up to Cherisy, which is about seven miles south-east of Arras. The fighting had raged all tho 'way along the lino from Q.ueant and Bullecourt — whore tho Australians fought with such wonderful tenacity and determination—to the neighbourhood of Lons. Tho two villages of Fontaine and Clierisy, on either side of the Sonseo, were stoutly defended by the Germans, just as they tried to hold Bullecourt, and the ruins wero the scene of some of tho bitterest struggles of the long battle. At ono time the British seem td have captured Cherisy, but they had to come back" under the pressuro of repeated counter-attacks. There are now heavily wired lines in front of tho village, with concrete maehinc-gur posts, and two sunken roads assist tho defence. Tho valley of tho Seusee, too, runs across the British lines diagonally and behind the village, and tho Gormans have made excellent use of it. Tbo villago itself, as one would expect, is a heap of ruins, but the ruins serve as cover for concealed machine-gun posts. However, it is confidently stated that the British can capture tho villago whenever they think the effort desirable. Tho severest task, of course, would bo to hold it.

The very interesting little movement of the French in southern Albania, from Koritza past Lake Alalik and across the Devoli and to Bogradetz, on Lake Ochrida, will havo the effect of extending the territory administered by tho new Albanian Republic. Probably few people are aware of the existence of this republican Government. As a matter of fact, it was established in December of last year, at Koritza. It has all tho machinery of a modern government, a council, an army 600 strong, and a Budget. Tho French army was tho sponsor of this nekr-nora State, wrote Air G. Ward Price a few months ago. The aim of its foundation was. as much strategical as political. Four mouths ago the Bulgarians were in occupation of the whole district south of Lakes Ochrida and Prespa, and their patrols came as far south as Koritza.. The Greeks wero in control of the town. They were Royalist, and Koritza was a centre of espionage and contraband. Tho German mail to and from Athens used to pass through there several times a week. The Austrians had bands of paid komitadjis (irregulars) ranging the whole district.

When tho French patrols first reached Koritza they soon found that the hostility of the local Albanians was not so much lore of the Austrians as resentment of any fresh incursion of foreigners into their country. By ousting the Royalist Greeks and allowing the proclamation of the independence of Albania with Koritza as capital, tho French converted enemies into allies. Themistoeles Gcrmcni, a Christian Albanian Nationalist, who was ono of the principal chiefs of irregular bands in the pay of the Austrians, was won over so rapidly by this measure that lie became prefect of police of tlio new Republic. Authority is exercised by an elected council of fourteen members, seven Mussulman and seven Christian. They raise money by taxation —.£IBOO a month; £I4OO of this goes to pay their Albanian gendarmerie, of whom a part are fighting by the side of the French against tho Austrian paid bands and showing themselves of great use as guides. Tho success of the measure of proclaiming, or rather reproclaiming, the independence of Albania has been complete. In fact, every Power involved in Albania seems to be driven to the conclusion that the Albanians must be humoured rather than dragooned. The Italians have proclaimed Albanian independence at Permeti, in their sphere, and the Austrians appear to have done something of the same kind on their side in tho north.

It was the Conference of London in 1913 that first founded an independent Albania and put it under the Prince of Wied. He was driven out in May, 1914, by revolution, arid succeeded by Essad Pasha as President of tho Albanian Republic. In September, 1914, Essad declared war on the Austrians, and ho has throughout remained a loyal Ally of the Entente, though, liko other rulers of small States, he has temporarily lost his country and is now in Salonika. Five hundred Albanians who followed him are fighting at the front, brigaded

with the Freuch. In bis view, it will bo necessary after tho war to havo tho same kind of Commission of International Control in rostorod Albania as was working there before, .its function being not interference, but inspection. A native gendarmerie of 10,000 to 15,000 men would bo provided by national compulsory military service; it would bo commanded by foreign officers, chosen from nationalists that aro not themselves interested in Albania and able to speak cither Albanian or Turkish. Ono thing the Albanians can bo suro of, at any rate, is that the mistake of giving them a German Prince will not again be perpetrated.