THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17862, 7 August 1918, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Tub "Berliner Tageblatt” is perhaps not a good guide.to German feeling, because it is notoriously out of sympathy with the aims of the military group, but its statement of tlio impression created in Germany by the defeat of the Crown Prince may well be correct. Tho failure of the offensive must have been a heavy blow co the German peoplo, who had been stimulated by the official and semi-offi-cial declarations to expect a relatively easy . completion of the defeat of the Allies. Now Germany has to face the prospect of a .long and bitter struggle against increasing Allied forces. Tt will be interesting, and important, to learn how the General Staff, the real ruler of the nation, explains away the defeat. It cannot contemplate with equanimity the inevitable conflict with popular, opinion, which will steadily rise against it as soon as the German people realise that there is another dreadful year of waiting ,-and suffering before them, wiilh perhaps another such year to follow. The Allies will have to guard against the possibility of another terrific enemy assault, because if the military party in Germany finds the temper of tlie peoplo changing it may resort to madly desperate 'enterprises to save itself. Political .movements in Berlin may give us an indication of the enemy’s intentions even before the military developments are apparent. So far, of course, we have had little information concerning the state of mind of the enemy people, because, (the German . newspapers are for tlie most part under strict discipline, and it is only in the pacifist or anti-militarist newspapers ithat opinions hostile to the General Staff are expressed.

,'i‘rwie has been zio fresh development of importance in France. Tho Germans are strongly posted north of tho Wesle and the Allies are showing no disposition to attack <them prematurely. On ithe rest of the front minor movements only have occurred. A New '->rk telegram states that the Germans

north of La Basse© are retreating, but the official news mentions only very local changes, the significance of which does not appear to be great.