CAMPAIGNS REVIEWED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 164, 9 July 1918, Page 4

CAMPAIGNS REVIEWED

OFFICIAL SUMMARY. (United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July & In the telegraphic review of the general war situation for the week ended July oin, received by tho Governor, General from the Secretary of SUto for the Colonies, there is tlio following reference to the campaigns,— There have been only minor operations on all tihcs Allied, fronts in the West. • , . . The Italians conducted' local minor offensives on their Northern front aiid between the branches of the Lower Piavv. The operations in the North consisted of the capture of certain important peaks which previously wero of great assistance to the enemy in attacking. On the river Piave the Italian objective has been established on the line of the eastern branch, thus shortening and atnngtnening the front.. The process of clearing the Austniins from between the two branches of the river still successfully proceeds, yielding a considerable number of prisoners.

A SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE. '"' On the British front on the mommy of Friday, June 28th, a most successful ful operation w.-.s carried' out. On': a front of between 3 and 4 miles eastward of || the Forest of Nieppe we advanced our line about 1500 yards, taking ov;v 400 pirsoners, tiwo field gune, and. a number of machine guns and tcench mortars. The operation w ; rc carried: out by men mostly from Yorkshire, Lancashire and Northern counties. Some .Southern English units cooperated. Our casultaies were vof.y slight, and the line here was greatly strengthened. Simultaneously Australian troops took advantage of the cm si-'. fusion to capture certain hostile posts west of Moreia, taking 43 prisoners and 6 machine guns. On the morning of July 4th Australian troops, assisted by ' American units, carried out a very well ex. cut-. Ed minor operation south of the Somme.. In the same sector where thi.y already had. had such a remarkable local success, they advanced their line approximately miles, capturing th"» village -of Hamel and Vair.e Wood, taking"about 1500 prisoners audi numbers of machine guns and anti-tank guns. In addition to prisoners]; the German losses were heavy, while the attack was so well organised > that ,our own loses were very slight. ,

AU STRIAN C ASUALTIES. Vf . . Serious effects have been produced. on the Afiatrian and Hungarian troops . by even the limited casualty lists permitted by the Austrian Govern ni/ii. The- Hungarian Premier itrttruth fully reduced the correct figurfl by Viearl.V half, yet, even so, the indignation produced* has been considerable and really in nbot'h Italian theatres the true figures are being daily largely increased. The numerous prisoners examined incilufcle officers, non-commissioned officers and .men of Austrian and Hungarian divisions, and all agree that the conditions in the front lines are very bad, and, although the; officers and men are not actually starving they nro always hungry. The war-wearine*S' among the- troops is considered "to bo by poor food and under-feediiig.' Prisoners also agree that'the accountsgiven of the internal situation of Aus-tria-Hungary are not .exaggerated.. There is great dearth everywhere, and - disturbances are; often engineered'.* by:'■:■ disaffected soldiers- returning from cap- - tivity in Russia, who, after a. month's leave, do not wish' to re-enter' the army. To make matters worse, this year's crop is bad; No food hasb «n sent from- the Ukraine-, and the poorer* people have practically no" subsistence. Provisions are obtainable in the towns only in the smallest quantities, at exoi'bitant prices so none but the rich are able to make ends meet. Secret ! hoarding .slightly eases country life,. but even there pricis are prohibitive, [and a prisoner's father recently. paid 680 kronen for a small pip. The pop- , ' ulation earnestly desire peace, but say the war is continued for the benefit of the Germans and the wealthy classes. Hungarian troops complain of, ill-treatment at the hands of. the Aiistrians. Hungarian officers' and mon desire only to get home. Germany is.. ' frankly hated, and the general f< eling' is that the whole war is waged- for the ; ; sake of the Gerttian Emperor. " On the French front, -in two "minor operations, the French retook- high, * ground between' Coeuvres" ' and' St. Pierre A igle, th<• French '-■ and American {troops retook Hill 204, in the .Chateau Thierry sector. Both operations : deprive the enemy of strong points and give the Allies a position Whence a> distant view is obtainable, 'whiclv:. hiakes any enemy attempt to advance along l those two' roads towards Paris riiore difficult., . • . ;■-.■•. ■;' _ ../•:' , Three thousand 'women marched through London in various uniforms, representing the hundreds of thousands now doing war work 'in .England.' A,further significance of their patriotic ■:' enthusiasm lies in the fact that not only have they released large numbers o c men /or the fighting forces, but the v^are -also taking a very large snare in th"e heavy work of providing the Ah ' lied armies n» well as our owin. with v many s of their . requirements. ' -..-.■' The Food Ministry reports that th> news, of Lord RbonddaV death was -.received with expressions of deep sorrow, from every part of Great Britain-- ■ With unfailing trust in our patriotism, hp based* his policy upon equality cfF ■ ►sacriifiee. and he 'was rewarded mot only by success, but by the ■entire'confidence of the people. The King sent a warm message, of sympathy to Lady Rhondda, expressing his ou'n" and Quoen Mary's condolence and their-' sense 'of the national loss shared ' h'y the whole country, which realised in every home the bem'fits of Lord Rhondda's work.- Other messages ex-; pressTve" of ivgret, admiration n.nd gratitude have been sent by'' the 'Tremier and by Mr Clynes, of-'.the' Todd Ministrv. "-•''. . • . . <