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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16212, 17 August 1918, Page 2

Some people have felt a little alarm at tho statement that Lenin has declared' war on behalf of Russia against the Allies. They fear this may mean that large forces from Russia will be thrown into the scale on the western front. So far as Lenin’s proclamation is concerned there need he po anxiety whatever. Lenin and Trotsky are now practically powerless in Russia and have had to save their skins by flight to a district where the Germans can protect them. There is, however, no doubt that the German Government will do all that it can to raise armies in Russia for use at the front or on tho lines of communication. But Germany has been doing this ever since the collapse of Russia and Lenin’s proclamation of war is merely a flimsy excuse to cover her activities. So fax as can be judged from the very untrustworthy reports received the prospects of the Germans are not very brilliant. The peasants and .even the town workers are turning against the Bolsheviks and their German friends, tho Czecho-Slovaks are battling hard fop), the Allies, though handicapped by lack of rifles and munitions, and the Allies lit Yladivostook and Archangel are doing all they can, so far from the scene of action, to assist the Russians of whatever party who wish to oppose the Germans. The future really rests with the Russians themselves, and we cannot at present judge what they will do, though the fall of the Bolsheviks seems a favourable omen. The Germans have a certain advantage from being on or near the scene of action; they know what they want and are absolutely unscrupulous. Thus tho future of Rusia is still uncertain, but the prospects from the Allies’ point of view are more favourable than they were a few months back.

Up to noon to-day there is very little fresh war news, from which it is to be inferred that in the present theatre of fighting on the west front nothing very striking has occurred. Heavy fighting is probably taking place for the possession of the Lassigny Massif, a position of great importance to both sides. If the French have, as reported, definitely secured it, they will require a little time to consolidate the position and to bring np big guns with which they will be able to make Roye and Noyons untenable by the enemy. But the Gormans will hang on to it as long as possible in order to effect an ordered withdrawal on either side. In other sectors there seems to be a marking time while

tho possession of the Lassigny Massif is in dispute. When the French have complete possession and have their guns in position there will boa, further move ahead. North of Arras there aro indications of further withdrawal on the part of the enemy, especially in the Lys region, but whether this has any important connection with tho retirement below the Somme is as yet uncertain. Clearly tho Gormans aro not at present prepared to undertake a further offensive at any point, hut whether they have abandoned all idea of further aggressive operations on the west front is not so clear. Their reserves are so depleted that they must have time to reorganise. General Foch, on the other hand, is in a position to force the pace if he -wishes, and if he experiences very much trouble at Lassigny he will probably exert pressure at some other point, for it is not to he supposed that he will he content now to relapse into defence, with occasional raiding, such as was the rule until the middle of July. He has the ball at his feet, but it is impossible to say at present which way he will kick it. He may he watching for an opening at some unsuspected point, where he can score more cheaply and just as decisively as by throwing himself against the strongest enemy forces.