NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17882, 30 August 1918, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR.

The Germans have, rather tardily, resorted to drastio measures to secure their front, and the latest communiques show that they are in full retreat everywhere between the Sommo and the Oise. Ruther obviously, they anticipated that as soon as the pace of the British advance was checked a fresh attack would come from some quarter, and they concluded that Humbert and.Debeney would again take up tho running. Hence they forestalled the possible offensive by a retraat on a wide front, hoping to gain time for the reorganisation of a defensive line while they devoted their attention principally to Byng's thrust. Their withdrawal from Roye, once it commenced, was extremely rapid, for the French communique on Wednesday reported that the line of Licourt and Nesles had been reached, four miles east of Chaulnes and within a couple of miles of the upper Somme. This retreat necessarily involved the evacuation of ChaulnesAt the moment it looks as if the intention of the enemy might bo to come to a halt on the line of Bapaume, Peronne and the upper Somme, but as he had the, opportunity of defending that line at the end of 1916 under much more favourable conditions and declined it, there is ground for ihe supposition that he may continue his retreat now. The menace to Bapaume, indeed, strengthens the supposition that the withdrawal will be still more comprehensive.

The Germans have used their reserves to strengthen their front art Bapaume, but they have not yet been able to bring the British advance to a stop between Bapaume and the Scarpe, and until they can secure stability on that sector the possibility, of a counter - movement

does not appear to be very marked. In describing the general situation in June, Major-General Maurice used a very striking metaphor, comparing the German front to an umbrella, with the reserves disposed along the stick, ready to be moved in any direction. The magnificent French defence on cither side of the Oise had virtually turned the umbrella inside out, and it was the French who now held the advantage of position. The same metaphor is very applicable still, for the Germans, holding the inverted umbrella, are reti eating before tho blast, making frantic endeavours to restore the situation to a mare satisfactory and manageable shape, and to hold it open. The double Allied offensive threatened at one stage to close the umbrella up, and if tho reader cares to continue the illuminating description he can imagine the Allies to bo still endeavourina" to squeeze the ribs back to the stick, while the enemy continues his retreat, pushing outwards more or less spasmodically to obtain momentary protection from the storm.

The effort of tho British First Army to drive the Germans from their positions south of Lens has immediately been countered, as one would naturally expect it to bo. After the extension of the battlefront to the Scarpe and the very successful thrust on that Btream and immediately south of it, the enemy was bound to be alarmed concerning the position north of the Scarpe and to take measures for the adequate defence of his lines. The first British rush carried the advanced system of the defence, but next day enemv reserves were thrown into the fight and some of the ground gained by General Home's divisions was lost again. Even if the attack is not pushed persistently, it will have a most useful effect in holding the enemy to his ground and preventing the diversion of reserves to other sectors. Sir H. S. Home, who is a Scot from Caithness, fought the First Army through tho battle of Arras last year. He was out with Sn Douglas Haig in 1914, as a brigadiergeneral of artillery. He had the Second Division during the battle of Neuve Chapelle. Ho went with Lord Kitchener to Gallipoli in 1915 and afterwards commanded a corps in Egypt, transferring to France with it in 1916. In tho Sommo battle of that year he commanded in tho attack on Fricourt, and was besido tho New Zealanders at Flers. In tho autumn of 1916 ho took over the command of tho First Army.

The other two British commanders engaged in the battle aro more widely known than General Home. Sir Julian Byng, who has the Third Army, was in command of the 3rd Cavalry Division in Belgium in 1914, fighting boside Rawlinson's 7th Division, and everyone who has followed the history of the war knows what a fine record, he has. . He succeeded Allenby in command of the Cavalry Corps in 1915 and then went to Gallipoli peninsula to take a corps command there. After the withdrawal he returned to France, had tho 17th Corps for a few months, and then took over the command of tho Canadian Corps, which he fought through the Somme battle and again in the Arras battle last year. His storming of the Vimy Ridge was a particularly brilliant achievement. When Allenby went out to Syria Byng succeeded him in the command of the Third Army, and the romarkable thrust towards Cambrai at tho end of last year was a typical example of his methods. Byng started his active service career in the Soudan in 1884. Sir H. S. Rawlinson, who commands the Fourth Army, in which the Australians aro fighting, had the 4th Corps in Flanders in 1914, when the famous 7th Cavalry Division operated under his orders. He fought at Neuve Chapelle and Loos and was appointed to command the new Fourth Army in the spring of 1916. He was in command of the front of the Sommo battle when it opened. Early this year he was appointed British representative at Versailles, on tho Allied General Staff, but was recalled to command the Fourth Army agai i after the Germans broke through in March.

It will bo convenient for the reader, no doubt, to have the position surveyed briefly as far as it is revealed in the latest reports. Commencing from the north, General Hume's army has failed to maintain its advanced positions, but holds Arleux. Gavrelle is also in British hands, and the lino runs then to Plouvain, nearly seven miles east of Arras. South of the Scarpe the Canadians have captured Pelves, and their line runs south-east to Boiry and then to Haucourt, about two miles beyond the Hindenburg line. Hendecourt, Itieneourt and Bullecourt must be under attack, Croisilles having been captured. From tho Sensee to Bapaume the position is little changed, though the latest communique reports that the British attacked along the whole of this front and made progress everywhere, the fact being that the attack regained ground that had been lost in a German counter-attack. However, the important point is that the progress continues. The enemy is still bitterly defending Bapaume. Between Bapaume and tho Somme the advance continues, though the enemy is fighting fierce rearguard and delaying actions, and the lino runs now by Longueval, between Hardecourt and Maurepas, to the Somme east of Curlu. South of the Sommo the "Germans have retreated on the whole front to the line of the upper Somme, Mid the iatest reports show them to be defending the bridgeheads at Peronne and Brie against Australian attacks. Tho French line runs, as far as the communiques indicate, from Brie bridge to Licourt, Potte and Nesle.