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Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16617, 23 August 1918, Page 4

The war news continues very cheerful. Tho British have made a new offensive on a nine miles front, extending from Beaumont, on the Anere, to Moyenville, which is just below the Cojeul,. a southern tributary of tljo Scarpe, on which Arras stands. The attack, led by tanks in a mist, was onco more a complete surprise. The Gorman positions were penetrated deeply on the whole front, fire villages being captured. General Byng, the hero of the Cambrai l»attle, was the director of this operation, in which the 2Cew Zenlanders had part. At Adiiet-le-Grand, if that was among the captured hamlets, as an unofficial message reports, tho British are now across the Arras-Albert Tailway and within three miles of Bapaume, while the town of Albert with its environs makes an exposed salient for ike Germans.

On the south-east edge of tha Flemish, salient the British have also improved their position, capturing the village of Lb Touret, and strengthening their line which guards Bethune. More important still have, been the French successes on tho southern front. Attaching again between the Oise and Aisne our allies hare increased their progress, though the report that they have reached Sempigny, only two miles from Noyon, is not confirmed officially as we write. It 3s officially stated, however, that over eight thousand prisoners were, taken in the latest advance, and ten thousand in three days. Tho German front on the Aisne and Vesle, as well as the Lassigny-Xoyon is menaced by these operations. Recent successes would suggest thai tlic German armies, whose pencil was tremendous' a few months aj»o, have not merely lost al? strength for an offensive, but. are now distinctly outclassed and deficient for defensive purposes all tho way from Flanders to Rhcinis.

Two reasons may be cited for that change. The German armies wore themselves out too fast by tho extremely costly methods in which tlicy made their offensives, and the price of thoso violent attempts to gain a quick decision was not only men whom they cannot replace, bnt- the strong »lefensive line which they exchanged for a succession. of salients and comparatively unentrenched positions, by whose weakness tho Allies aro now benefitting. If tfie latest Ludendorff orders which have l*ecn eaptnrcd were issued genuinely, and not to mislead tho Allies, German soldiers realise tlie new position, and a real rot has commenced among them. The position of the Czecho-Slovak forces in Siberia 5s most critical, according to an official message, which calls urgently for increased support. It is impossible to believe, however, that Japan ever thought intervention in Siberia could be limited to a force of 14,000 men.

The rate at which American troops have boon despatched to France during recent months has been described, without any exaggeration, as "the

most remarkable achievement of its kind known to military annals." " How long the accelerated transport would be maintained would depend, it was stated early lash month, upon developments in France and the length of time the surplus tonnage furnished by Great Britain could be employed for this work. The War Secretary, Mr Baker, stated that as reserves for the million and more men then in France, more than another million were in training in ilie "United States, -which, by the end of July, would have three million soldiers under arms. Tt waa also stated by General Wood that the military strength by January 1919 would bo four million men, all of whom would be thoroughly equipped, while those sent abroad would carry supplies and equipment for three months:. The Senate's Military Committee was informed by General Crotrder that- "everybody cxprcted heavv calls to be made during the' first six months of next vear."