WAR NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, 15 May 1917, Page 4

WAR NOTES.

There is not the slightest doubt that one of the greatest crises of the war has now been reached on the Droconrt-Queant front. According to a correspondent at British Headquarters the mere fact that Sir Douglas Haig has established himself in the ruins of Bullecourt "constitutes a decisive defeat of the Germans," who "sacrificed thousands of lives in desperate and futile attempts to relieve the menace to this vitally important position." It should be remembered that D'ouai is the ultimate British objective in this particular neighbourhood. The Droconrt-Queant line is said to form part of the famous Hindenburg line, and the fall of Bullecourt on the line, it was stated in yesterday's cables, has practically isolated Queant. The reason why the Germans have fought so strenuously round Gavrelle is that it commands the German position at Plouvain, on the Arras-Douai road, and also because the Drocourt-Queant line cannot be far behind it.

If recent operations, are recalled it will be seen that what Hindenburg has been doing lately is simply to rush reinforcements helter-skelter to the sectors on which the Allies have launched their attacks, and this has simply resulted in the sacrifice of Germans. Naturally it will be his endeavour to change _ this procedure, and the way to do that is by making some big and definite move of his own. The best way to meet an attack, if it becomes really dangerous and cannot be dealt with by local counterattacks, is to counter-attack on a big scale elsewhere. For instance, the Verdun thrust was countered by the Somme, and the Trentino invasion by Brasiloft's great drive. The best authorities seem to be agreed'that, great as is the pressure upon Germany now, she has yet, owing to her adoption of civil as well as military conscription and her enormous use of labour of prisoners and the inhabitants of occupied territory, the troops to spare for anotherjbig offensive. If that is so, the big effort is likely to come off soon. At least half a dozen fronts have been mentioned—in the west, Ypres or Lorraine; in the east,, the Dvina or the Sereth I'.ne; in Italy, the Trentino; and in the Balkans. Macedonia.

As soon as St. Quentin and La Fere have, fallen, Hindenburg will begin to feel nervous about Eaon and another big. retirement may take place. It is interesting to note that on a six or. seven mile front round about Vendhuille ■ on the St. Quenyn-Cambrai Canal, the enemy line has now been penetrated, since the Somme battle, began, to a distance of nearly 20 miles.

The situation in Greece seems to be taking a turn for the better after the disquieting news of the past,'few, days. The communications of Sarfail's armies are not safe while German agents are able to stir up trouble. ' among Greek Reservists. Any further efforts by the. Germans in Greece may be .taken as a possible euide to Hindenburgr's intentions in Macedonia. If he endeavours to oan-y out the old threat of driving Sarra.il" into the .sea, it will be mainly. for diverting effort from the west. There ore considerable difficulties which the Germans will know all about of keeping a larger Allied army in the Balkans going. The. freight question would prevent the use of many ships for transport, and the mainly overland route—across the Channel, down through France arid Italy and then across the wou'id be costly and slow. Besides, the Allies want all their rolling stock for other purposes. For these reasons_ the Germans may attempt something big in Macedonia.