NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 5

NOTES ON THE CABLES.

By Shhapnel. WEATI-lER AND POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS. Severe frosts have had a wolcomo effect on tho terrain in Franco. A London cablegram says that the ground is deeply frozen on tho West front, and that it is enabling the Allies to move forward heavy material which, was held up during tho mud period. Not a moment should bo lost in taking advantago of tho conditions. Guns should be moved forward on the Somme front and a heavy bombardment of tho Gorman lines recommenced. Tho more tho Germans can he discomforted during the winter tho less inclined will they bo to endure another winter campaign. Moreover, Germany is making a tremendous effort to accumulate guns and shells for tho forthcoming campaign, and is taking advantage of the winter lull on tho West to withdraw artisans to her foundries. One of tho mistakes that the Allies aro making is not pushing a winter campaign with the utmost vigour. Much can bo dono with artillery, and in spite of tho weather the Allies should be able to find ways and means of bringing up their guns. If necessary corduroy roads should bo formed and rails laid upon them for transporting guns and heavy munitions. Even broad ferroconcrete sleepers could bo made. Mud or slush created by traffic goes down only a limited depth, and hard ground could soon bo found upon which to lay sleepers for light and heavy lines. Underfoot in the active centres in Franco there are few natural conditions at present forming obstacles to progress that could not bo overcome by intelligent and enterprising engineers. All that is required is the determination of the commanders. Where the ground is high and easily drained, or there is a natural fall, new trenches could be dug, and the winter efforts therefore could bo designed to scizo couptry of that nature. Such attempts would' keep the Germans fully employed in defending, cause greater losses, and hamper the German Staff in their attempts at reorganising their forces for the coming campaign in spring

Much depends upon how much the Germans can bo harassed during the next six weeks. On the west front it is important that the Allies just now should accomplish as much in that direction as possible. Just now the Russians aro enabled to attack owing to the hardness of the ground facilitating transport. When the thaws set in and the rivers begin to flood, and the ground becomes sodden from the melting of the snows, the Russian offensives will come to a standstill. Then the Germans will be able to rush reinforcements to the west front. They will bo able to do that during spring. In Russia and Poland the ground will not be dry enough for heavy traffic until June or July. Up to that period will'bo the critical time for the Allies on the west front. Before that time the Russians will be able to attack heavily only in parts of Volhynia, Galicia, and Moldavia, and there the Germans will endeavour to hold them with Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish forces, stiffened with only a few German ' divisions. While the Russian winter lasts the Allies on the west front should batter the German lines as badly as they can do it with guns of all calibres, tako the offensive in a minor way whereever possible, and begin their great offensivQ at ths earliest moment.

It is just possible that the German preparations in Upper Alsace are just so much bluff in order to draw off French forces from Lorraine and the Champagne, which are the strategical weak spots in the German front. If not a bluff, then it is meant for a demonstration in force against the French in Alsace, and afterwards agairtst Belfort, if successful, for exactly the same purpose, that is, to weaken tho French forces which the French Staff intends to ftirow into tho Champagne or across the Mouse. What Germany fears is that the French will movo against Motz and tho lines of communication between Germany on one side and Belgium and the north of France on the other before the Germans themselves are ready and while the Russians are attacking on tho cast front. MINING TJIE NORTH SEA. Admiral Jellicoe is mining the North Sea. According to the Berlin Tageblatt, Britain has established a blockade across tho Heligoland Bight Apparently mines aro being laid from the north of Holland in a circular direction convex towards the Dogger Bank, and curving in towards the Danish coast. Mines will be laid so as to catch both underwater. and surface craft; that is, they will be so constructed as to float at all depths from a few feet above the sea floor. Tho. line of mines is in all probability being brought near the Dogger Bank because tho greater shallowness thero will require a smaller mine wall. Where the water is deep., nets with mines attached will be lot down.

Evidently there will be no necessity for leaving lanes, as J3ritain has no trade in the area that, is being enclosed. Behind tho mines the British will patrol the waters and watch that part known as the threemilo .limit. In connection with Denmark there is an excuse, for disregarding the three-mile limit, as Germany has compelled Denmark to mino certain channek, or has herself mined Danish and Swedish territorial waters. Most of what is described is what Germany suspects is being done, and what she herself would do if she were in Britain's position; so wo may be fairly certain that is what is being done, and that what Admiral Jellicoe is doing will bo done very thoroughly. There will, of course, still be tho Skagerack arid Oattegat outlet for German submarines, but wo may bo sure that not a few traps will be laid in those waters. It is unfortunate that Norway is not at war with Germany. If she were tho task of the British navy would be much easier. It is also Tonfortunato that there is a very deep channel close to the Norwegian coast, which cannot bo mined. How the difficulty will be met and German submarines prevented from escaping into the North Sea from tho Baltic is very hard to see. Prooably an attempt will be made to'patrol more closely that portion of the North Sea near Ndrway, behind a- very narrow channel not obstructed with mines.