NOTES-ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17093, 27 August 1917, Page 6

NOTES-ON THE WAR CABLES.

By Shrapnel. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YPKQS. Severe lighting continues for the high ground round Ypres that dominates tho position in West Inlanders. It is against tho British, both at Ypres and Lens, that tho Germans have concentrated their heaviest forces, in tho hope that they will be able to exhaust tho striking power of the "spiteful foe," as tho Kaiser describes tho enemy that has done so much against innocent Germany. Tho Kaiser's presence on that front and his abuse of the British show how keenly the Germans apprehend the consequences of defeat on that sector. Amongst the German troops, and especially amongst the officers, tho Kaiser's prcsenco and his exhortations aro still a groat power. Whatever his officers bolicvo with regard to tho Kaiser himself and his abilities does not signify, but they all know that his downfall will be the end of the officer casto in Germany and of the abject obedience of the Boldiors and civilians to the individual and his uniform. The principle of implicit obedience to, and trust in, the super-ability ol the German officers is inculcated early in the life in tho Germans by pulpit, press, professor and teacher, and the German soldier obeys blindly because his obedience is an inculcated conscience, and ho is, therefore, a blind and docile automaton.

Ypres as a name is a horror to tho German rank andi file, but such is the impulse implanted by tho German military education that, willingly or unwillingly, tho soldiers go forward liko beeves to tho slaughter. Under such conditions, it may be said that tho German, soldiers are fighting at bay, and that they must either die or desert. Losses on both sides are bound to be great, but those of the Germans must bo the greater, because the British, having the mastery of the air, can direct their artillery, bombard communications, attack reserve formations, and give notice of in r tended attacks. That is, however, not all,' for their artillery, besides being ablo to make direct hits on tho enemy's batteries and gun-pits, is firing two shells to every ono that the Germans fire. Even though the British do not clear West Flanders before the season of active campaigning ends for this year, they will, by tho close of the autumn campaign on the Ypres front, have so reduced the German reserve of manpower, that whatever new drafts aro called up and sent to the front in 1918, will scarcely fill tho gaps that have been made. Tho ijriirisli strength on (he west front stands easily at two to one against Germany's, and tho strain and rate of tho enemy's wastage increase daily at a greater ratio than to his reserve power. It is because of that satisfactory stato of affairs that tho battles at Ypres and Lens must not jnst now bo -viewed in the light of tho local gains that aro made. THE LENS MAELSTROM. As at Ypres so at Lens. At each place tho British aro striking at two of tho strongest points on tho German defensive front, and the inference is that apart from tho tactical value of the positions, the purpose is to draw as many German divisions destruction. What adds strength to that as possible into tho two maelstroms of view is the fact that at Lens the British could render tho town untenable by a stroke from. Avion or tho Avion-Mericourt lino on the south or greatly contribute to the attainment of that object by a heavy stroke eastward and southward of Boi's Hugo and Cite August© on the north. At present there aro no signs of such attempts being made. On tho north-western, the western, and the south-western outskirts tho British seem to prefer attacks of a frontal nature. Probably the explanation is that owing to the positions which the British hold north and south of the town, the Germans cannot uso their artillery effectively, while the British guns can direct a converging fire upon the strongholds and machine gun emplacements in tho western end of tho now ruined town. That being so, it may be regarded aa desirable to leave tho east sido of the town open for tho Germans to pour in reinforcements. According to the best authorities in France and Britain, too Allies on the west front have double tho number oE reserves that the Germans have, and although fighting of the kind that is going on round Lens is very deadly, yet, tho more obstinate tho resistance of the Germans, tho more they play the allied game; for the achievement of ultimate victory. Tho battle is a test of the fighting qualities on both sides, and the longer it lasts the more disastrous will be the effects of tho blow on tho enemy's morale when the battle is won.

According to the correspondent of the Petit Parisien, tho Germans have been ordered to hold Lens at all costs The nature of the fighting and the importance of the position are a sufficient indication of the mind of tho German High Command. Fresh troops are, it is said, being hurried to the scene of the great struggle. Perhaps, when Sir Douglas Haig thinks that there are a sufficiently groat number of Germans in tho trap, he will suddenly develop his enveloping movements The battle must be going to his liking, or he would have done so before this. As long as Lens and Ypres are keeping tho Germans from succouring their forces at Verdun and as long as the French, are succeeding in pushing northward down both sides of the Mouse, tactically and strategically the Allies are winning a great co-ordinated battle on

tho west front. As soon as the Germans begin to strengthen the Verdun fronts, Sir Douglas Haig , will exert greater pressure at Lens and Ypres, for it seems fairly plain that, with their superiority in the air and in men and guns, tho British are not yet " all out" in their strokes on the two great active centres on their line. VERDUN SUCCESSES. Tho French continue to make good progress at Verdun. They now have completely in their possession, after one stroke, Mort Hommo and Hill 304, which, after many costly attempts, the Germans took just before the Somme battle began. Not only have the- French captured these two formidable positions, bfit they have pushed forward beyond them to tho depth of two kilometres, reaching the Forges Brook and carrying their fortified works south of Bethincourt. A London message describes this success as rounding off the crescent of the new front and as leaving tho French established on an advantageous position on the Heights of the Meusc That is true enough, but until the French are established at Bethincourt and the Forges Wood, aeroas the Brook near the Meuse, they cannot said to have brought their front into alignment with these positions on the right bank of tho rivsr. Tho best news from tho Verdun front is contained in Mr Warner Allen's statement, that the battle reveals material evidence that the enemy's forces arc beconiing inadequate to maintain the existing line, and, so far from being partially exhausted and from having to remain passive, tho French are more capable of undertaking the offensive than tho Germans are. The French are now close to tho original lines from which they were driven by the great German offensive m February, 1916, and, if anything were required to provfe that Germany is rapidly going clown hill in her man power, it is to bo seen in the rapidity with which the French have recovered so many strong positions at such a relatively small cost. THE GREAT ITALIAN THRUST. Ono of the most dreadful battles of the war, owing to the defences of the enemy and the broken and mountainous nature of the Country, is the struggle between tho Italians and Ausfcrians on tho Isonzo and Ca-Tso sectors. Though the Austrians are offering a stubborn defence and fchoogh. reinforcements aro being rushed to tho front, they aro reported to be losing ground. The talJy of unwoonded prisoners has now reached 20,000. The additional total of wounded prisoners must be very largo, especially on tho Carso front, whore tho Italians have broken the first lino of tho enemy and have reached the second line, and in parts the third. Hermada is isolated. by the land attacks and tho bombardment from the sea, and ■&© obstinacy of tho defence seeing to bear out the irapreesion that tho Austrians recognise that the capturo of this stronghold -will canaa a collapse of tho wbolcr defenco on the Oarso front.

North of Gorizia the Italians hav© captured Monte Santo on the western end of the Tcrnova Heights. Evidently tho loss has demoralised the enemy, for they are said to bo rapidly retiring, pursued by tho troops of tho Italian Second Army, Xhe

fall of Monto Santo is important, as it greatly relieves tho loft flank of the Italians on tho Carso front from tho jnennco of tho Austrian artillery, and greatly ensures tho safety of tho now base at Gorizia. Now that Basso Taiti, Korite, nnd Selo aro in tho possession of tho Italians, these should, as soon as Hermada is taken, bo a general advance on the Carso from, tho Vippacco to tho sea.