GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 114, 18 May 1918, Page 5

GERMAN OFFENSIVE

INFERENCE FROM LONG DELAY

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

j LONDON, May 17. J !Mr Philip Gibbs writes that, the long j postponement of the enemy assault | seems definite proof that the losses in ! the earlier offensives are so heavy that he is obliged to abandon costly tactical blows in order to prepare for new battles on a wide front. Ma- Gibbs opines that the- enemy will not strike until he has completed fresh formations and their special training in order to resume the offensive on something like the scale of the 21st March. It is true that the \ process may be near Completion but we ( have gained invaluable time and the I enemy has thereby lost the greatest* land perhaps the only, chance of victory. Our gaps have been refilled and our trqops rested and refreshed. The British, with French assistance, will not

again be obliged to bear ithe brunt of an unequal struggle. GENERAL MAURICE'S VIEWS. THIRiD PHASE ABOUT TO OPEN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (ißec. May 17, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 17... General Maurice- in the Daily Chronicle says indications are steadily increasing that the third phase of the campaign is about to open. Two-thirds of the Germans are now between Yp res and the OLse. It is a weakness of the British communications that they run parallel to the front intead of at regular intervals straight from the front to the base as in the German positions. A successful German attack on any part of the line threatens the. communications of the whole British front. It is thus difficult to give ground voluntarily in order to establish a better front. tßindenburg early in 1937 fell back 30 miles without uncovering vital communications. We can in nowise give one-third of that distance on the Amiens front without grave inconvenience. This is what tear Douglas Haig meant when he said we were ngntinc with our backs to the wall. Although the position is cramped we are in a better situation to meet an attack than on 21st March We unified the command. While our losses heavy there is the clearest evidence that the enemy's losses are heaviei American troops are steadily pouring in. There has been time .to. readjust the poitSis of the Allied force* on front We mav be sure that Foch now S3 rVrrfw V .Wed ~e last.

BRITISH COMMAND IN FRANCE.

NO CHANGES CONTEMPLATED

* (.Reuter's Telegrams.)

LONDON, May 16., Replying to Mr Outhwaite Mr Bonar that no change.had occu£ red or collated **, which g in faturehe would decline to answer.

AMERICANS IN ACTION

SEASONED TROOPS USED

LONDON. May 4. The Times correspondent at American headquarters in France states - Seasoned American troops are now the British and French in ooen hilly, and wooded country. Afte? detraining they spent a week manoeuvring under battle conditions. Guns . were" cleaned, horses examined and equipment strengthened The men were instructed in new tactics after which they went on a five-day*'march into the fighting zone. The mjantxy and artillerv took up forward positions SS week, 'and since then have given good accounts of themselves. The soirits of the men are high, and their courage strong They . are glad of the opportunity to get into the bio- fio-ht. Their presence encouraged the allied troops, and has raised the morale of the civil population in districts they parsed through.