NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16824, 13 October 1916, Page 5

NOTES ON THE CABLES.

By Shhapnel. VARIED WORK ON THE WEST FRONT. There is muoh activity of various kinds on tho front in France. In the Somme region bombardment by tho artillery on both sides seems very general. North of Arras, in the Artois district, especially in tho region of Nouville St. Vaast, bombarding and raiding the enemy's trenches seem to bo tho order of tho day. The GonoaJiß are said to have shown greater activity thero lately. Probably air scours have discovered an increase of men and guns behind tho German lines. Mining and trench raiding operations are also being carried on actively north of Lens, and the Germans, taking note that the British are very active north and south of that important road and railway centre, suspect that preparations are being made to attack between La Bassee and Arras. It may be, also, that tho Germans are collecting behind the La Bassee, Lens, and Arras sectors for the purpose ot delivering a counterstroke to the Somme offensive. Such a proceeding, however, would bo welcomed by the Allies, as serving tho purpose of reducing the colleotivo strength of tho enemy's forces.

While tho bombardment is being carried out on the Somme sectors, the airmen o£ the Allies are doing (rood work behind the German lines. The enterprise of the British airmen has taken an extraordinary turn. Added to their scouting and bombing expeditions are their attacks upon forces assembling behind the firing lines. These operations demand great ability and daring, as the airmen have to fly low in order to use their machine guns effectively on the enemy formations. Thev consequently become a target for thousands of rifles, and! tho wings of their machines are often riddled from tip to tip. Under the pilot and observer there will be, of coarse, a sheet of highly-tempered steel. It would be inimpossible for the operators to escape if them were not some device for protecting them and the vital paxte of tho machine. In the last great British attack the airmen f ' T 'd valuable work in flying along the German trenches and enfilading the ranks of the Germans in the firing- lines. To-day we are told that the British aeroplanes have been attacking railways, deDots. billets, and cantonments, and bombing moving columns and other bodies of men. The complete* ascendancv which the Allied airmen have attained, besides causing loss of life and destruction, must, through interference with, stores and movement ot troops, bo causing a considerable amount of confusion amongst the Germans, and must seriously interfere ■with their preparations. As this morning's reports include a reference to great and extended enterprises by airmen as well as to bombardment by artillery along the whole Somme front, another week-end attack must be in preparation. Almost every attempt by the Germans to leave their trenches has been checked by the barrage of the British and French gunners. The Allies, for their part, are able to move their men without being always harassed. This fortunate state of affairs is duo bimply to the fact that the superiority of the Allied airmen has "blinded" tho German artillery to a great extent. In the next great attack all the advantages, such as aro necessary for the movement, should bo with tho Allies, especially those of suddenness and sccreoy, and of hitting where' a blow is least expected.

TUB RUMANIAN SITUATION. Tuere is still a paucity of news from thd Russian and Rumanian fronts. Even the German communiques are meagre. What little news is being received from tho Transylvanian front is disappointing. The Rumanians, on tho whole, are still retiring before superior forces. Evidently, while the Rumanians tried tho shrewd German plan, of suddenly rushing into tho enemy's territory for the purposo of keeping the fighting there, they wero rot strong enough in Southern Transylvania to hold their ground. So, far, except in the sparsely-populated part of tho Dobrudja, whero most of the population is Bulgarian, there has not been any fighting on Rumanian territory. To thai) extent the Rumaniaii position still remains favourable. As for what may be about to develop against tho Rumanians, however, tho danger to Russia is so great and seriona that it may be taken for granted that tho authorities in that country are taking all manner of earo that Marshal von Hindcaburg shall not succeed in his project for securing a rich prize.

THE OFFENSIVE FROM SALONIKA. On the right flank of General Shrrail's battle front the British _ have crossed the railway between Seres and Demirhissar. TKey will most probably next attack Seres, and then consolidate their position aqd move up towards Demirhissar and Rupel, clear tho railway and tho heights to the east and north, and then cross tho Belesh. Mountains in the wide valley of the Strumuitza, in order to seize the country on tho east side of the Vardar valley and Railway. On tho right bank, or west side, the Allies aro already across the border a little to the west of Ghevgholi, which is held by tho Bulgars, who hop© to prevent* the Allies from ascending the valley. It is on the left flank, where the Serbians and Russians are, that tho most extensive operations aro being carried out. Tho Serbians are well across tho great bend of the Czerna, oast of Monastir, and the French aro pushing forward between Lake Prespa and tho railway running up to Monastir* The fact that Bulgarian 'reinforcements have been sent into tho Monastir district shows that the threat ajrainst that town haa become effective in drawing enemy troops from the Danube front. In Albania the Italians aro pushing forward to cffcct, a junction with tho Salonika forces. They havo occupied Klisura. about 50 miles southwest of Ldko Prespa. When the defence of Monastir is broken there should bo a fairly; rapid advance in Serbian Macedonia. PROGRESS BY ITALY. The Austrian resistance against tho persistency of the Italians seems to be weakening. On tho eastern side of the Trentino the Italians are progressing m the Fiemme Valley, and aro threatening the communications with Trieste, tho chief town. North of the Brenta Valley they have captured fw valuable Austrian position on Mount Pasubia, which gives them command of arccid into the Dolomites. East of the Isonzo, on tf»o Carso Plateau, tho Italian progress is becoming more rapid —,in almost sure sign that tho defence of the Vippaeh railway and valley is going t» pieces, and that Trieste will soon be approached. T n spite of what tho Austrian prr's may siy, Trieste is a valuable position When that port and lho Vippach Valley are occupied, the Italians will ba abls to thrust a wedge towards Fiume, and. wi'ien it southwards by occupying the Istri&n Peninsula, thereby bringing Pokx, the chief nnvnl base of Austria-Hungary, under fire of their siege guns. Austria cannot view with equanimity the approach of tho Italians towards Trieste. The moral and material effect, acting in opposite directions, would depress tho Austnana and elato tho Jtauaw. CONSTANTINE'S SURPRISE. The report in 'o-rl.iy's cablegrams that an has beer delivered to King Constantino, and that as a result tho Creole fleet has been handed over ro the Allies and very valuable concessions made, is the ear" prise of the hour. King Constantino has boon an enemy work-ng underground against tho Allies, and has now been treated n» such. lie should bo taken away trom Athens until the war is over. Tho occupation of Piraeus and tho uso of the northern railway will greatly assist tho operations at the Allies in Macedonia, by relieving tho overloading of the br.rvcs at Salonika aruH tho Salonika railway.