NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17455, 25 October 1918, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

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WILL GERMANY ESCAPE THE NET? Amcrica, is said to bo preparing for two trioro years of war. That may bo so. It is wise to bo prex>ared for all contingencies, but wliilo it is probable that many sensible Americans think that tho defeat oi the Germans is still far away, the announcement of tho preparation is prompted moro by tho psychological purpose of irepressiveness than by actual necessity. With the superiority in numbers and in great material resources on which the Allies are ablo to draw, Marshal l'\jch has tho means of inflicting a great blow upon tho German military machine. It is to be admitted that tlie German withdrawal in i ranco and Belgium has been orderly, and that, in spito of tho rapidity with which tho Germans havo had to givo ground and in spite also of tho disorganisation created by their having to change front locally many times, the Gorman General Stall has cleverly disposed tho remaining strength of its armies. It is well for tho Germans that time, the physical conditions, tho maze of efficient railways in France and Belgium, and tlie efficiency of their organisation for handling huge forces has enabled them, so fax to escapo destruction at tho hands of tho Allies. The Germans must either retreat or turn and fight a great battle against forces controlled by tho greatest military genius of his time. Slowly at certain points and rapidly at others Marshal Foch is driving tho Germans into a net from which their commands will in the end find it extremely difficult to extricate them. Their military machine will come to grief botween tho Mouse and the Rhino unless tho Germans can secure an armistice or a complete cessation of hostilities, or the High Commands withdraw a great part of their forces at once to tho east of tho Rhino. Both on earth and in tho air are tho meshes of the net which Marshal Foch is weaving around them. No general on tho battlefields of Europe has so clearly envisaged a practical end to his theories and plans, 01knows so well that the possibilities are within his grasp. Given the time and the necessary political support, Marshal Foch will fight his battle. Every forward movement that is now being made is a step towards the climax; and the point of time and action 'is never absent from Foch's mind. Round him and under him is a galaxy of generals, ablo and now experienced in all that is required to beat tho Germans at all points. Nobody knows better than the authorities in Germany that the end is looming in sight and that the grand finale will come at no greatly distant date. Germany can escape only by diplomatic subterfuge. All who understand Prussia and what Prussianism implies will experience a thrill of satisfaction in reading the statement by King George that "victory is within our roach, and wo are all agreed that it must be a complete victory." . Not" only is a great victory within reach on the west front, but tho well-springs of other victories of tho greatest consequence to tho world are being gradually developed in Siberia, Russia, and Poland.

FORESTALLING THE SCHELDT DEFENCE.

In spite of bad weather and waterlogged and sticky ground, the attacks by the Belgians in the north and those by the AngloAmerican forces and the French on the right are progressing very favourably towards the purpose of crushing the Germans again&t the Meuse. Not improbably the air forces will play a large part in attempting to stop the Germans from effecting a comparatively safe retreat and making a 'temporary stand. The Belgians and French are methodically working out the problem of crossing tho Ecloo Canal and the Lvs; while tho British on their right, in the neighbourhood of Tournai, by carrying out a turning movement, are ably assisting the northern flanks to establish numerous bridgeheads which will permit them to throw sufficient forces across the canal and Lys to deploy for an advance upon Ghent <and Oudenarde. At Deynze the French aro across tho Lys; and at Pecq, north of Tournai, tho British, having established a bridgehead, have advanced a mile, thus endangering the Germans, who aro trying to hold Tournai, with its bridges and railway junctions. At Valenciennes and in the angular area to the north the British are making splendid progress through the forest of Raismes and; north of it. They have also driven the Germans to the eastern outskirts of Valenciennes. At St. Arnaud, and also tat Valenciennes, they have crossed the Scheldt, thereby helping to outflank the Germans who are defending the Tournai- section of the river. More rapid' progress is to bo expected as soon as the Valenciennes angle is cleared and Tournai falls.

SMASHING THE GERMAN FLANK.

Between Lo Gateau and Solesmes the Anglo-Americans have launched a partial offensive, and have succeeded in making anadvance along a front of six miles. The object is to bring the forces between these two points into line with the advanced positions south of Le Catcall, on the Catil-lon-Wassigny-Very-le-Grand front and, when tho lines are linked up, to make an advance upon Landienes. After that, Avesnes and Vervins will bo the objectives. The capture o£ the two latter places will cut the chief, communications, by which the Germans are now so easily transferring troops from the north to stop the progress of the French and Americans on the southern arm of the great salient against the southwest corner of which til© French are being met with a stout resistance.