REVIEW OF THE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 21

REVIEW OF THE WAR

A WEEK'S OPERATIONS. WELLINGTON, June 10. Tho following telegraphic review of the general war situation has been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated June 3: Reports from all sources prove that but for German control Austria would collapse by economic bankruptcy and the disintegration ->f the diverse nationalities under the Hupsburg dominion. In riots due to labour troubles and food shortage near Prague, ill Bohemia, 300 persons were recently arrested. The Arbeiter Zcitung's report of the trial describes 37 of these persons as lean, hungry, working women, with weepin? children on their laps, and half-grown lads and girls. A growing fear of a revolution has driven the Austrian Emperor more and more into the power of Germany. Tho German conditions are less critical, but are sufficiently bad to force .the military authorities to seek an immediate decision. Once tho failure to achieve the annihilation of the Allies' armies becomes apparent to tho German people an important reaction of German opinion will follow. At present the partial military successes enable German statesmen to revert to their ambitious schemes of dominion in Europe and Asia. The only effective counter measure is the defeat of the German armies, which is assured now the United States throws her decisive weight into the scale. The Military Committee of the House of Representatives has authorised the President to call up an unlimited number of men. Over 250,000 tons of new American ships were put into service during May, and over £20.000,000 was subscribed by American citizens in the recent campaign in aid of the American Red Cross.

The British mission to South America was received with marked sympathy. In Buenos Aires there was a remarkable street demonstration in its honour following an official welcome.

The'.enemy offensive on the Aisne, which commenced on Monday, May 27, reached tho end of the first phase by tho following Thursday night. Hitherto the direction of the attack was due south, and had penetrated to the Marne, the north bank of which is in the enemy's hands for over 10 miles • but Kheims is still held by the Allic9. On the other flank, although Soissons was captured, tho enemy was unable to drive the French from the high ground to the west. The enemy then attempted to advance in a westerly direction, whether desiring to widen ihe deep salient in which he .found himself or march on Paris. To attempt to cross the Marne with his front still pinched between Soissons and Rheims was dangerous and unprofitable. By May 31 the Allies had the situation so well in hand that in the next four days of lighting the enemy only succeeded in advancing his front between Noyon and Chateau de Thierry to a depth averaging lose than six miles, whilst west of Soissons the French regained considerable ground by a counterattack. From Tuesday, June 4, onwards it was clear that the enemy advance was held. It is interesting to compare the throe enemy offensives of the Somme, the Lys, and the Aisne. The Somme offensive opened on March 21, and reached its zenith on April 1, and stability was re-established on April 7 —less than three weeks in all. The enemy used 87 divisions. The Lya offensive opened on April 9, and reached its zenith by the 18th. It broke out afresh on the 25th, and reached stability on the 29th—three ~ weeks in all. Excluding the Kemmel attack, the enemy used 37 divisions in this operation. The Aisne operation opened on May 27, reached its zenith on the 31st, and apparent stability was established on June 3—exactly a week, during which the enemy used between 40 and 50 divisions. A comparison suggests that the main enemy offensive of the 1918 attack w. 20 in the Somme area, whilst those in the Lys and Aisne were the exploitation of unexpected opportunities. Perhaps these will cause the enemy to modify his original intention; but tho disposition of his reserves suggests that he is not so committed to such a change. The enemy strategy so far has been based on the advantage conferred by the interior position which the salient formation at the battle line has given him. He has now created three such salients, and has thereby given the Allies a similar situation in tho intervals. This would operate to the Allies' advantage should the enemy attempt to continue his advance on Paris. Whether the enemy adheres to his original objectivo of separating tho Allies' armies by an advance down the Somme Valley, or should his recent success draw him into an advai.ee on Paris, his strategical objective will be identical—to oblige the Allies to fight a decisive battle this summer. While the Allied Higher Command can be trusted to assume the counter-offensive should tho situation be suitable, for the moment such an action would likely involve the Allied armies in a decisive battle before tho American army has developed its full strength. The soundness of the Allied policy of awaiting tho development of the American army _is clearly demonstrated by ifco quality which these troops have shown in the few small engagements in which sections of the American army have hitherto been engaged. The enemy's anxiety to force a decisive action is evidence that the Germans hold the same view.

Tho Board of Trade reports a voluntary agreement to modify tho provisioning scale for seamen specified in fhe Merchant Shipping Act?. A substantial economy in food is anticipated by eliminating waste. Tho restrictions in common industry proposed will come into force on Juno • 10. Working hours are to bo reduced from 55g

to 40 for mills on American cotton. Levies to compensate the unemployed will bo payable on every loom or spindle running instead of on tho excess number over 50 per cent. To save coal, the mills working 40 hours only must stop all Saturday and Monday. The Eood Ministry reports that the successful rationing schemes have caused a demand for tho rationing of other articles in which there are local or temporary shortages. It has been decided to ration lard from July 13 at the rate of 2oz per head per week. Registration with tea retailers is compulsory. The supplies to the retailer arc allocated on the basis of 2oz weekly for each registered customer. It is not proposed to individualise at present. Supplies from overseas continue to avoid the wastage ontailed by tho slaughter of immature cattle for home consumption. Tho shortage ot cheese still causes serious difficulty, particularly in agricultural districts where substitutes cannot conveniently be obtained. If tho labour weather conditions enable the estimates of increased home cereal supplies to bo realised it will go far to compensate the Allies for tho inevitable losses in cereal acreage consequent on the recent German advance.

The Air Ministry reports a marked increase in aerial activity by both sides on tho Western front. The weather during tho past week was usually fine, though at times the sky was overcast and tho visibility poor. The Royal Air Forces and the Australian Flying Corps were enabled to surpass all previous bombing records. During the week in tho battle zone and on the Belgian coast a total of well over 270 tons of bomb.? was dropped, with excellent effect, and over 250,000 rounds of ammunition were fired in almost continuous operations day and night. Big railway junctions, such as Valenciennes, through which the enemy's forward organisations were fed, were attacked repeatedly, and the troops in the rest billets behind the lines were constantly harassed by our bombers. Statements of prisoners and captured documents show the success of these wearing tactics. Useful re connaisance and artillery work were accomplished by our aeroplanes and kit? balloons, in the course of which over 10,000 photographs were taken. An incessant bombing offensive was also carried out on Bruges, Ostcnd, ai>d Z/ccbrugge, and hits were secured on important naval and military works. Tho enemy strained every nerve to keep our bombers and rcconnaisanco machines from penetrating to their objectives, and the air fighting were severe. During the week 105 enemy aircraft were brought down, and 40 wore driven clown out of- control, whilst 24 of our machines failed to return. The ascendancy of our scouts and two-seater fighters lias thus been well.maintained. Our bomber* penetrated the German frontiers in 26 different raids, and drooped bombs on military objectives, including munition factories at Mannheim and railway station and workshops at Karlsruhe. Landau. Kreufewalto, and Karthaus. Evidence accumulates of the growing moral and material effect produced.