The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 10 1916. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 10 1916. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST.

Tlic extension by the Germans of tlicir attacking front seems to indicate that their operations are not a blind to some formidable attacks elsewhere, but arc the result of ; i detoi'minatien to concentrate nil their available strength of men and munitions on s desperate attempt to break threugh the French barrier before the Briti-di reserves can be sent to France, and it is quite possible that the appearance of the German Fleet in the North Sea lias partially been decided en to create a diver.simi, while, in other part it may be designed to attempt the frustration of the conveyance of men and munitions across the Channel. It is quite clear that the German offensive in the West bas entered upon a inott momentous phase, and li.v shifting the attack to the west bank of the Meuse certainly threatens the essential railway communications in that locality. It is not surprising that the Paris press regards the new development with .some anxiety. That the lighting is phenomenally furioiw is evident, a feature of the attack being the enormous quantities of German heavy artillery, consisting of huge mob'! ■ .;mi«, the field artillery being a niev ■ ;. ,-i'»sory. The Cerman attacks have priie-tit-ally driven out the French railway salient opposite Sawogncux. but. tills lias merely had tile effect, of adjusting the French line so that their forces on both sides of the Meuse are brought into relative positions. It is stated that the Hermans are now massing on every sector of attack and bringing up rer ' serves, fbey claim to have sained considerable ground and to have obtained possession of Fresnes (eleven miles cast-south-east of Verdun), also of the village of Forges, which was a small salient and not easily defended. The French retirement may be .regarded as :i tactical move necesitated bv the development of the attack. While the French arc evidently conserving their farces as much as possible, the Germans arc still recklessly sacrificing their troops out of all proportion to the small advantages gained. Their latest attack must net, however, be deemed unimportant, especially in view of the heavy reinforcements that have been brought up. They are making u supreme effort, and it is, perhaps, as well that they should do -so, and the fierce determination they exhibit gives weight" to the supposition that the battle of the Meuse will materially affect the issue of the war. The enterprise is one that is akin to playing against an opponent who has loaded dice, for their prospects of ultimate success appear to be very remote, while the loss of life is bound to lie prodigious. At the same time we cannot tell what a day may bring forth, and we must, therefore, be prepared to hear of ground being won, possibly only temporarily. 1 but still a legitimate success. With such furious onslaughts as the Germans have been making, and continue to make, it is only reasonable to suppose that they must secure some result, but the French are still confident that they have the advantage of well-fortified positions. It ltiust be remembered that for the Germans a deadlock means a defeat, hence their impetuosity and disregard of loss of life. The war in the Western theatre exhibits German militarism in its true light, and its result will have a marked influence on the duration of the struggle. Events are moving rapidly, and during the next week »r two the public mar look for important iovelopmeaU in this World struggle