The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917. THE WEST FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9614, 21 March 1917, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917. THE WEST FRONT

In a recent issue, “The Times” announced that among the German forces tho West front had acquired a bad reputation. The men preferred even tho submarine service to tho horrors of tho British artillery and the sweep of the British infantry. The West front stood for these Germans as a thing done. The German army of the West had had its sickness of fighting at Verdun and on the Somme. In April of last year, the Kaiser issued a proclamation, announcing that the Entente armies were about to eat a soup of his providing, to he administered by his Guards and Brandenburgers. These famous troops duly appeared on the West front, after the Somme Push had opened, and they were duly exterminated long before “The Times” issued its severe description of the demoralisation of tho German army. To-day ‘‘The Times” article is confirmed by the general retreat of the German armies in the most vital sector of their trench lino of the West. In that interval Britain had mobilised more'men for all purposes of tho war than any other Entente Power, in proportion to population. Tho vast levy was equipped splendidly, officered perfectly, staffed wonderfully. A portion had seen war at Ypres (the second battle), Neuve Chapolle, and at Loos. But the bulk got its baptism of fire on the-Somme. The Kaiser’s great corps d’elite offered it the Kaiser’s soup, and it drove the stuff down their throats with surprising success.

Close observers of events have noted a remarkable absence of initiative on tho Western German front during the whole of the Somme period. The Germans had the initiative at Verdun, and it did them no good. Tho initiative passed from them when the first British gun opened on the long line from Ypres to Peronne. The Germans. not knowing where tho attack would be delivered on that line, believing, in fact, that the British army of amateurs was incapable of serious assault, were astounded when the blow fell between Gommecourt and the Somme. They fought with toughness. When Poziercs (of tho Australians) and Longucval were tom from them they had fought with loss toughness. Tho toughness of resistance continued to dwindle at Miraumont and Gueudecourt. After Thiepval and Flcrs (of the Now Zealanders), tho resistance had grown feeble, at Beau-Hamcl it was desperate, and after that to Bapaumc if was a retreat. About that time the Germans, who had thus dwindliugly abandoned the initiative,

submitting tamely at last to be kicked out of every place the British gene-

nil chose to attack, suddenly proclaimed that they were about to deliver a tremendous blow on the At est. They were buying treachery in Russian nigh places; they had a peace agreement on the Russian table; thc\ bad stopped the lighting oE all the Russian armies. The impending German valour was Russian treachery. The great German armies oi the East were about to be thrown on the West front. That was the great offensive about to bo undertaken by “our glorious troops. Before the traitorous pen could sign, the British troops had forced the “glorious troops” to give way in the centre, at Bapaumc. The Russian Revolution converted the impending blow on the AA est into a general retreat “according to our plans.'' AATiat is likely to be the upshot? A\ T o have to guess, and we have some information to guide guessing, if no read it by the light of events all along the great line of the front; and add it to the knowledge that comes day by day. The first fact is that the Germans are in retreat on a width of at least 100 miles in the very centre and vital part of their long line, the very'part which for a strategic retreat to a shorter lino must lie hold as the jiivot. At the outset the enemy has lost his pivot, which tho shrewd blows of the Entente have swept backwards and arc pursuing with great vigour. Here French and British are co-operating with great forces, equipped and organised for this very work, with large masses of a very formidable cavalry. Tho proximity of tho French advance to the British suggests that the troops relieved by tho transfer to onr people of the French Trenches have been kept behind the line, massed for this effort. This great advance began with a small front, in two lines at right angles to each other. fVlien the upper line, advancing, forced the enemy to retreat, it was heatledfor the centre of the main German line, behind which are the best of tho German communications, both for distance and railway transport. At the same time the second line of the Somme assault suddenly moved, and tho French reserve, liberated as above, swung fprivai d with it, and the ,whole■ French line to the cast began to move. Apparently the design is to force the enemy’s centre troops—tho whole of his retreating pivot and considerable forces on either side—away from his best line of communication. If the movement succeeds the German lino must be broken in tho centre, and three-quar-ters of his armies west of A r erdun will he forced to head for Belgium, harassed' by a powerful, well-equipped and rapid pursuit, especially strong in cavalry. On tho other side the British have a great concentration of force ■with a huge mass of artillery somewhere in the Armentieres section. This will be available for striking at the northern German line, which will hold for all it is worth to protect the western flank of retreat into Belgium. If that attack forces back the German line, in the same manner that the Gercan centre and pivot has been forced back, the German forces will he in confusion of retreating lines, impeded by the congestion and screwed inwards from both flanks, while the pursuit of the combined British and French forces to tho south is overtaking and hammering and, overpowering the rearguards and striking great'blows at the centre. ''" “Then the 1 Belgian ’ army— : lately described by Lord Northcliffe as in perfect condition in all things—may move round into Belgium and clear thecoast for the landing of a large British army to come into the fray. These are all possibilities. If they are all made good tho enemy’s forces will ho surrounded and destroyed, making good the statement with which Sir Douglas Haig so astonished the public some weeks ago. On tho other hand, there is a possibility that the Germans may win the race of the roads. They are moving fast,' systematically doing frightfulness m every form. They ore not cut off from their German communications yet, and they are straining every nerve. Router’s correspondent tells us that whatever their scherqe, they have been forestalled. That is really the only ground for hoping that they will be driven into Belgium, where disaster awaits them. It is too soon to accept definitely the conclusion that they have been forestalled, especially as there are no signs of punishment, such as losses of prisoners and guns. Neither arc there any signs of any prepared positions awaiting tho fleeing enemy. All that is clear now is that his pivoting centre is being driven back hard. When the enemy moves his flanks, as ho must do to keep his line intact, tho situation will become clearer.