NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17113, 19 September 1917, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

By Shrapnel. BRITISH AERIAL ACrHVITIES. Activity on tho west front continues to bo of tho variety tihat has marked it ior tho l>tist low weeks. Air raids, trench raids, and artillery duels aro reported on tho sectors of important strategical value. Northern France and Flanders aro the regions of tho greatest aerial activity of the Britioh. In tho air raids, tluough (jemon machines aro brought down in larger numbers tlian British ntaohines are, tho British losses in mU'cJiinea and pilots aro total losses, and wo aro loft in some uncertainty whether or not every enemy maoiuno that is sent down is completely wrecked. Tho British machines aro being lost behind tho enerqy lines, and, ua a consequomoo, Oemui.ii acropiano experts will have bbe opportunity of examining them and of learning all that there is to bo learned about tno improvements that havo been introduced in thiem. In continually fighting above tho enemy ground tho British airmen have not only to contend against thoir aerial opponents, but aro also subjected t to tho shell lire of anti-uiroraft guns, and, wlien they aro flying low, to tilve riGe fire of tho German infantry. Since General, von Arnim con> plained in his report after tho battle of tho Sommo that tho Gorman soldiers did not use their rifles often enough against their enemy's aircraft, there has been an increase in the Gorman use of rifle fire against airmen, and export riflemen have been assigned the duty of sniping tho British machines and their occupants. In many cases tho British airmen are paying the penalty of their daring in flying low to attack with machine gun fire from the enemy's trenches and the enemy's detachments thai are caught in tho open. Some of them, in order to ensure the accuracy of their aim, descend to within 200 yards of their machine gun targets. Now, as wo aro losing from 50 to 70 machines a week, and as tho loss, not of machines, but of export pilots and observers, is serious, there nnust be .a sound reason for the continuance of this baldness of action. Either another big attack is impending, or the results of the aggressiveness of tho airmen must bo so valuable that a continuance of tho attacks has becomo important. These attacks are not being carelessly or wantonly directed. All that is achieved is carefully weighed and balanced against tho loss, and that cjruite apart from tile work which maoliines specially designed for reconnaissance operations are carrying out. Wo can afford the Germans tho benefit of any mechanical secrets they may learn from tho machines that fall within their lines as long as tho British airmen are the masters in tho air and all that appertains to tho work they are sent to accomplish, and as long as few enemy rf machines dare to cross tho British lines for "spotting" purposes. ALLIED AND ENEMY REPORTS. Reports from both tho Allies and the enemy show a great and diversified activity along the front-line trenches. Sir Douglas Haig states that further successful raids were carried out eastward of Epehy, about tho centre of the St. Quentin-Cambrai lino of the great British salient, and others along the northern arm on the Arras-Douai railway. Further north, south-eastward of Gavrclle, a fairly extensive and useful raiding was successfully carried out, as tho British destroyed dug-outs, machine gun emplacements, and munition dumps. Tho Commander-in-Chief also reports that hostile artillery ie active eastward of Ypres. To that, of course, there will be the reply of the British guns, and, though Sir Douglas Haig does not say " our guns are effectively replying," a German official message supplies tho information that the artillery duel has increased several times in volume or intensity with a violent drum fire. By " drum fire" is meant that the bursting of the shells from quick-firing guns has the samo effect on the ear as that of a call which is being rapidly and continuously beaten on a drum. The Gorman report also states that there is intense artillery fire on the Aisne sector, in the Champagne and in tho Verdun regions. If' the report correctly describes what is taking place, another instalment of the Allied offensive is in its initial stage. There may or may not bo immediate infantry attacks. The concentrated artillery fire of tho Allies' artillery is known to be doing tho work of attrition in a deadly way that is most economical to tho Allies in respect of man-power. Of that evidence has been provided in tho number of dead, buried and unburied, in the German trenches and dug-outs when they have been taken. Tho French positions at Apremont, in tho forests and tho hoights of Argonne, have been violently attacked by the Germans, who gained a footing in tho trenches, but were afterwards driven out, the lino being rectified. This attack by the Germans at the eastern end of the Champagne lino indicates that they are closely watching the Champagne front. It may also indicate that they are expecting an attack on that somewhat vital line. This assault on tho French lines will have been for the purpose ■of securing their right fiaruk in the 'Champagne and for the purpose of obtaining observation points and artillery positions. THE POSITION IN ASIA MINOR. The position in Armenia, in Asia Minor, concerning which a correspondent seeks information, has long been obscure. This is especially so in respect of tho regions occupied by the Russians between Trebizond on the Black Sea and those parts of Armenia known as tho Urumia and Van regions. Russian reports, such as we havo received, have been quite frank about the retirement of the Russian troops northward on both sides of tho lakes from which the regions take their name. Nothing has been said about reverses either near Erzingan or in the Trebizond province, and, in view of the admissions about retirements eastward of Erzingan from Bitlis and Musk, in Armenia, near Lake Urumia, and from Khanikin and tho Persian borders gonerally, there aro grounds for the belief that the Russians are holding their ground firmly at Erzingan and between Erzcrum and Trebizond. These points and sectors are very important, and it would be reasonable to expect that tho Russians would concentrate a greater part of their strength on them, particularly as they are the truo gateways into Turkey in Asia. Where the Russians hare been driven back they have been attacked by large forces of Kurdish infantry and cavalry that have been well equipped and directed by tho Turks and Germans. The Kurds, though monsters of, cruelty, aro mountaineers, and are active and daring fighters under good leadership. Against their activities, aided by Turkish regulars and artillery, the advanced weak left flank of the Russians, pivoting on Erzingan, has not been able to, hold its ground. Poor means of communication and the deliberate political mismanagement in Russia havo also affected tho position in Eastern Armenia and Persia. No reinforcements and fresh supplies of guns and ammunition have been rcacihinjr. General ■Baratov's forces. As for the Grand Duke Nicholas, the court traitors at Potrograd, acting in the interests of Germany, pulled him out of tho position of Viceroy of tho Caucasus a con- ' siderable time before the revolution. He was too successful there, and the Czarina and Germanophiles feared him. Since the revolution all the Grand Dukes, without oxception, have been removed from positions either political or miKtary. Tho Grand Duke Nicholas was confined under arre3t on his estate in the Crimea. It has been rumoured, however, that ho has disappeared from it. It is possible that tho Turks have not attacked the Russians at any point where they are strong., as at Erzingan. Cholera broke out long- ago amongst the Turkish forces and reduced their strength by a third, and tho remainder of the Turkish forces have enough on hand in Syria and in preparing for an attempt to recover Bagdad. The Russians arc still maintaining their threats in Persia, and consequently aro rendering somo help to General Maude.