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Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16283, 10 July 1917, Page 6

The Germans have made more heavy attacks oil the French front, all of which have repulsed, and our allies, have carried three strong salients west of the Meuse, besides improving a recent gain in "the SoissonsRheirns sector. There is no important news from the British front. The Russians report the failure of Austro-German counter attacks at several points, but no new successes'. The most cheer fill news comes from the United States and from the Reichstag 1 . President Wilson is proclaiming an embargo, to be-p-in next. week, on the export of food- and other commodities to neutral countries which can sue* cour Germanv. and a secret .session of the Reichsta"-. if we can believe Swiss reports, has heard •some most anxious talking. Things ore hopeful for the Allied when, a Reich staff delea'ate, not a Socialist, lias to tell his rulers that the military situation is causing "general uneasiness" tlirnup'hout Germany, and that "all classes are de-man din <r" that the Government shall tell the truth about the war. The Government will not do that while the dangerous task can bo avoided, but a befinnincr was made recently to " break it' g-ently" when the British communiques, before prohibited, were allowed'to be read in Germany. If the Russian offensive does not do much on its own front, it will immensolv assist the British. "French. Italians, and General Sarrnil's army, when that begins to move.

The Germans who took part in. tlie latest aeroplane raid against I/O lido 11, flyinr l ' in machines built more for carrying: a QToat weiarht of bombs than speed, are admitted to have shown a courage equal to the barbarity of their enterprise. It was a eonrap'P which contrasted also with iho cowardice tliey have displayed at sea., but an Eufflish writer gives an explanation of

the Germans' contemptible exhibition on the torpedoed hospital ship Lanf'ranc and at other times afloat which is probably correctHe attributes it to their dread of the tral Europeans never get. a sight of the sea, for which tliey conceive an extraordinary terror. I remember once returning on a holiday from Germany, and striking up an acquaintanceship on the train with a German cornin" - to England, on business. It was his first trip to the sea, and all the way from Frankfort (where I joined the train) to Flushing he plied me with questions as to the unknown mystery. He could form no sort of idea of the sea, and when at length we got on board he dived below, and could not be induced to go on deck. The voyage was rough and I had a time of it until I persuaded him to go on deckHe gave but one glance at the expanse of heaving waters —they were not nice I admit.—shrieked ' Gott in Himmel!' and disappeared below until the ship was berthed in Queensborough."

Plying as they did, and in unusually large numbers, the raiders escaped lightly in losing no more than four machines, of .which three were brought down at sea and none over London. It is not surprising l that the raid has led to new criticism of the British air defences and new demands for reprisals, in regard to which the Government is be-, lieved to be reconsidering' its attitude. Reprisals have . beeii made by the French, who have bombed the great works at Essen with destructive effect, military establishments at Coblentz, aniline works at Ludwigshaven, and stations and artillery works elsewhere, while British naval aeroplanes have been busy at Ghistelles, between Ostend and Bruges. But it is hard to think that the Germans will cease their attacks on London till the revolting game is played against their non-military cities, as they play it. If a deterrent is not found, a more than usually "lucky" German bomb may do irreparable damage to St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey, which would indeed give joy to. the German soul. Such* buildings doubtless are protected as far as possible by special precautions, but the protection must leave large room for mishap. .