JUST THE OVERTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11508, 2 October 1915, Page 1

JUST THE OVERTURE.

ALLIES' OFFENSIVE. GERMANS DREAD WHAT'S COMING SEVERE STRUGGLE CAN BE EXPECTED. "Times" and Sydney "Sua" Services. (Received October 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 1. Colonel Repington, military; correBpondent of "The Times;,' says:— " There is every reason to hope that the Allies advance in the west will be continued in due time with the same admirable forethought and resolution that distinguished the preliminary operations. Sir John French's attack oti Lens and La Bassee was satisfactory, but we must remember that tho fortified agglomerations of La Bassee in the north and Lens in the .south now flanking our new lime ;ire not to be ignored. On the northern flank of our new line, Halsnes is still in German occupation. "On the right flank, by capturing Hill 70 and the western outskirts of Hulluch, wo got acrais the Lens-La Bassee road, but we remain a little in the air because tho French are not yet masters of the Givonchy, The Vimy plateau with its formidable defences is still ahead. V.'e iim.-d. bring into action all tho means at our command. "It is certain that our leaders are sot wasting, an hour, but tho attack

on ill© third lino requires special oare, because t the German general reserves ax© now and a severe struggle can be expected. We will be able to help our Allies on the right, and when the latter have turned the Germans off the Vimy plateau ire will be able to advance shoulder to shoulder with the French. " If the Germans think tfiat we have shot our bolt they will soon be undeceived. It is only the overture. There are many signs that the Germans dread what's coming. Their local reserves have been used up and we succeeded in our first efforts beyond expectations. The German headquarters staff are displaying weakness by their failure to hold ground on which they had expected an attack and also bjj foolishly concealing the truth from German people. We must expeot the offensive to be attended with heavy loss."