THE COMING CLASH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11471, 25 February 1918, Page 6

THE COMING CLASH.

ALLIES MORE THAN READY.

ARMIES IN HIGH SPIRIT. London, Feb. 11. A Times leader says:—“Unquestionably the Germans are resolved to stake the bulk of their remaining strength on stupendous efforts to obtain a decision on the west front. The previous attempa at Ypres gaud Verdun wore disastrous failures. This time there is a smaller choice of favourable areas, as the increased, troops and artillery of the British armies await the onslaught in the highest spirits. The closing episodes of the Oambrai affair were a disguised blessing, as they showed clearly the imperative need for being ready for the impending shock Yfe confidently believe to-day that the British armies and their ‘French allies are ready, and more than ready.

The war correspondent of the Times, writing from headquarters on the western front, says that behind the linos there is ceaseless energy making preparations for groat events. All ranks are working indefatigahly, inspired by a common desire to get on with the war. They are eagerly awaiting an op portuuity to finish it in a manner that it should ho finished.

Reuter’s correspondent at British headquarters speaks of raids, patrol encounters, .and “trench-mortar quarrels’’ as the outstanding feature of the present operations on the western, front. “Last night a party of our raiders, ” he says, “got into the enemy position near Poeleupelle, and after killing 2!) brought hack three. Our casualties were very slight. But those little affairs only transmit a phase of the work. Meanwhile enemy reinforcements continue to arrive from the the east; hut the allies’ forces in the west also continue to increase in an everflowing current. The clash, when it does come, will ho the most stupendous tiling in point of numbers ever known. ’ ’ , ALLIES’ GUNS SUPERIOR.

The Daily Nows has been authoritatively assured that although the Germans secured a haul of Russian and Italian guns, many were irretrievably damaged before capture. The diversity of calibre and the different ammunitions handicap the value of the remainder. The enemy may out-gun us in short battles, but those of tiie allies are more uniform and are constantly increasing ami will be superior in a struggle of prolonged duration.

Tho front is bathed in sunshine. This is converting ®the ground into slush, but spring-like conditions are stirring, and all tho armies are in readiness to meet the groat ordeal. Tho air-fighting lias reached an intense scale, tho squadrons having been remanned and refreshed and reequipped. A single day produced.,3B contests, the Germans losing 23 machines. Most of the other fights were indecisive, because the Germans fled. Tho Dutch-Belgian frontiers are being closed, and tho German railways have been re-organised for the most rapid movements. Berlin is boasting that Hindenburg is preparing for a similar use of the railways as in the eastern battles. YOUNG GERMAN RECRUITS. lu a limited attack the enemy might out-gun the allies, but in a longer battle wo will be able to concentrate a more uniform armament.

The Daily Nows expert points out that the British Army is wonderfully re-organised, that tire artillery lias increased, that there is a great development _*iu the Flying Corps and tanks and that the companies of engineers and flame projectors have become an army. The mechanics and specialists on the front he estimates at 100,000. German troops are arriving weekly. Their moral is apparently good, but it is notable that the 1919 class of youths predominates. “It will be,” writes Mr Philip Gibbs, “a massacre of boys, and when the first phase of battle is passed gaps in the shattered ranks must be filled by mere youths. The Tagoblstt admits that one of tiie striker’s phrases was, “No offensive in the West!” showing that Germany’s hungry, sullen people dread the ' coming slaughter of their youngest sons. NEW METHODS SUGGESTED. Reuter ”s correspondent at French headquarters says that the military question overshadowing nil others is how and whore the Germ us intend to strike on tlie west front. Ho proceeds to suggest that the enemy may have something up his sleeve, some new method, some new weapon, which ho thinks may prove decisive. He recalls that an elegant surprise in war made a reappearance last year at the Riga offensive. It is true that hero the enemy opposed troops of doubtful value, but he had to force the Divina and face what might have been a formidable resistance. His attacking divisions were concentrated seventy miles from the thearto of attack, burned up at the last moment, end hurled at the Russian bridge-head after four hours’ bombardment, before the Russians realised that the enemy was really upon them. However powerless tire Russians ■were, the German general, von Hutter, caried out the plan as if a serious enemy confronted him. It was a brilliantly-planned operation. Is it possible that the Germans regarded the affair not merely as a victory, but as a rehearsal?