The Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1917.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11894, 1 January 1917, Page 4

The Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1917.

1817. . With the dw» of 1917 -there aro! naturally may prophecies as to what the new year will bring forth—whether it will be one of sorrow or gladness. There are naturally many hopes and 'fears, but we believo the former quite Sutnumber tho latter, and that the great Imajority of the people of the Allied countries at least anticipate during the present year tho successful accomplishment of the great task which they undertook in the autumn of 1914. Two years ago wo entered upon the new year full of hopo that ere its eioso tho w.ur Would be ended, the European dragon laid low never to arise to curse the world; and that tho people, freed from the menace which had hung over them during the last forty years, would be given an opportunity to proceed with the great programme of reform and social and economic advancement Which had been tho dream and tho goal Df so many thinkers of the last half century. But it was not to be. The close *>f tho year saw the enemy apparently more strongly entrenched in the Allies' i "territory than lie was at the beginning pf the year; vast areas of country had j fallen under his dominion; a large mim- j ber of cities and towns had capitulated j before his victorious cohorts, and much j of Europe lay groaning at the feet of Ahe modern Attila. It was demon- j strated more than it had been at tho j beginning of tho campaign that tho Allies were totally unprepared for the contest; it became necessary to pause while the necessary guns and ammunition were provided, and in the meantime the enemy made hay while the sun shone. Twelve months ago we entered upon the new year with added hopefulness; many of us imagined that the disparity between the .state of preparedness of the enemy ajid the Allies had i>een largely overcome, and that henceforth the contending parties would fighr on an equality. Hut once again wo rere disappointed. The incoming of Rumania raised our hopes that a material factor had revealed itself; lm; during the last, few months Rumania has been overrun by the enemy, Iter 'fair capitals in tho hands of the Germans, and the outlook for that devoted country is not- bright. .But we are all hopeful ttfat the present year will witness a great change; the Allies, after years of preparation, after tho whole of the country has been converted into one vast factory for the manufacture of munitions, are in a much stronger position than ever before. We have every reason to believe (that we are now not only equal hut superior to tho enemy, and when the proper time arrives it is expected that the long but no doubt wisely delayed advance will take place. It may be that the present year will witness tho Allied Armies crossing the Rhine. The feverish haste with which the "Central Powers are submitting peace "proposals indicates clearly that tho internal affairs of Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey are becoming desperate. Stories of riots have been nu-" merous during the last twelve months, Bothwithstanding tho extraordinary precautions taken by tho authorities to prevent any leakage of news to outside 'countries, while tho large number of Ern/ounded prisoners made on the west, in movements which under normal conditions should not result in extensive captures, would lead to tho conclusion that many Germans are growing weary of the conflict and willingly surrender. That is tho only deduction that can !>c made from tho reports which have reached the outside world. The recent mccess of the Allies at El Arish banish all fear of a Turkish at|£ack on the Canal, and must necessarily- have the effect of seriously affecting thotmorale of tho forces of tho Sultan. -Recently wo have heard little from this guarior, but it is clear that great movements are afooi, tho recent advance in i the direction of Kut-el-Amnra showing that our forces near Bagdad havo been strengthened, and are , now prepared to take the offensive. It Js-stated that shortly after the outbreak of tho war Lord Kitchener declared that the conflict would last for ifchree years. Whether or not the late Secretary for War made that pronouncement is doubtful, but it is tolerably clear that only a miraclo can firing about the end of the conflict beJore the completion of that period. jLooking at the whole position without prejudice, and making every allowance for the resources of tho enemy, it leems highly probable that tho present fear will see lighting on an unpresedented, scale, on a scalo, in fact, that frill cause us to forget many of the great battles which took place in 1914, 1915 and 1916. That streams of blood *re destined to flow ere tho end comes jtppears beyond question, but we are jsanguine that the end is now in sight, although may bo dimly, and we aro hopeful that the present year will'see the close of the greatest war which has ever devastated tho world, and tho re--sumption of the arts of peace which had sperforce to bo temporarily laid aside -during the last two and a half years. THE SPIRIT THAT WINS. Sir Douglas Haig's report Upon the .operations on the Sommo and his description of the splendid results obtained by troops, most of whom have been raised and trained during tho last eighteen months, will not only satisfy the British people and their I-Allies that the objectives of the great offensive were achieved but will inspiro them with, hope for tho new year. It is very clear that tho first object of the enormous activities on tne Somme, the relief of Verdun by diverting enemy divisions from that section of

the Franco-British front, was thoroughly attained; that Verdun was saved as much by the necessity forced upon the enemy for weakening the army assailing it, in order to resist *the Allied effort, as by the heroism and determination of tho French defence. Assuredly also tho Sommo fighting assisted tho Allies in o'ther theatres and particularly the Russians by stopping a transference of enemy troops from the west; and it vastly dculrfced tho

enemy strength. Sir Douglas Haig's summary of the results obtained lays emphasis on the moral advantage of our troops, and on tho fact that there will be great numbers in tho enemy ranks who will begin tho new campaign with little confidence in their ahility to resist. The defeat of fully half of th© great German army, despite the advantages of the defensive, supported by the strongest fortifications, was achieved by troops who though inferior at 'rhe first in military training proved themselves infinitely the superior of tho foo in soldierly spirit, in cheerful onciurance and in tho resolution to push through to victory. They had with them tlio tremendous moral support of a just, cause and the knowledge that they wore there to punish a nation of 'criminal?, and in that spirit they met and overcame the most formidable resistance ever offered to an army in history. Tho most heroic spirit in tho world, however, would have been

of no avail unless supported by sufficient munitions, and here for the first time in the war our troops have had an adequate supply of guns and shells. The 'terrific battering to which the enemy's lines were subjected by our was hugely effective not alone in the destruction, of positions but in the demoralisation of tho rank and file.

This demoralisation was abundantly shown in the tvhoiesalo surrender ana in the feeble resistance in some of the foe's entrenchments. But at those points where fierce resistance was offered the result was the same; our men went through and over everything, carrying village after village and work after work with the grandest (lash and —as the Field Marshal describes it—invincible courage. That our New Zealand men had a prominent share in 'this magnificent work is a matter for intense prido and pleasure. Our soldiers fought alongside the best troops of the Old Land and distinguished themselves even in 'that splendid company and liko their imperial comrades they proven themselves, man for man, far better than the most famous German regiments. That our forces in conjunction with the gallant French, established moral and material supremacy over their antagonists is uncontrovertible. Tlu-t they will continue to do so, immediately the weather permits the great oll'enovo to be renewed, is not to bo doubted, in view of tho shaken resolution and dwindling resources of the enemy. Tho ultimate issue is already clear; tho ono thing needful now is to throw every pouna of c.ir lighting weight into the effort in the spring. Our men have tho spirit thai wins through; there can he no doubt of the result if tho nation backs them up by concentrating every effort, upon the reinforcements and the guns and shells that mean victory. THE FRENCH COMMAND, Marshal Joffre— r few men in tile long roll of illustrious soldiers who have commanded the armies of France have better earned the highest distinction in the power of the nation to confer upon her military leaders—has now retired from the active command of -the great army which, since August, 1914, has kept the Germans at bay in eastern Franco and tho great ta.sk of continuing the work has fallen upon tho shoulders of General Xivcllo. We arc still living too close to Marshal Joffre to fully Appreciate the work which ho has done for France and for the world; he leaves the command to take up other and perhaps 110 less important work, and the heavy burden of throwing back the barbarian hordes has devolved upon a younger man. After more than two years of constant vigil, after discharging duties heavier than have ever fallen upon the shoulders of any of his eoumrymni, it is indeed surprising stand tho tremendous strain so well. Marshal Joffre, it must bo remembered, is anything but a young man—he is within mensurable distance of the Psalmist's allotted span of life—and it says much for his physical and mental robustness that ho has been able to stand tho tremendous strain so long. Not for a single moment has ho shown any weakness in his grip of the position, or in his ability to counter the efforts of tho enemy, who, working from the inside of the ring, has, as it worOj been

able to throw colossal masses of men against various parts of the front which tho French have defended with so much gallantry and with so much success sinco tho victory of the Marne. The battle for Verdun, which commenced more than ion months ago, has been described as fifty battles and fifty victories, and assuredly the repuise of the Germans at this point, where hundreds of thousands of tho best troops of tho Fatherland have been mown down in swathes by tho magnificent gunnery of tho French, marked the turning point of tho war. Had the Germans broken through at that point; had J off re's barrier been carried away by the impetuous torrent of the German onrush, the position to-day would be very different to what it is. It is impossible to estimate tho value of the services which the veteran Marshal has rendered to tho c-auso of civilisation. Unquestionably his name will bo enshrined among tho immortals of his country. No man has rendered greater and more invaluable services, and no doubt ho will continue to labour in the same glorious cause- until Prussianism is finally crushed.

So far the world knows comparatively little concerning his successor, General Nivelle, but what it does know is quite satisfactory, and no doubts are entertained, but he will prove entirely worthy of the confidence which has been so abundantly reposed in him. In the best informed military circles it is considered certain that he will in his new position add lustre to French generalship, and that with the great example of his brilliant predecessor before him he will accomplish much for the liberation of the world. In "The Times" history of the war, there is an interesting sketch of the new Generalissimo, from which we may be permitted to make some extracts, sinc» anything concerning the career ani achievements of tho man who has been placed in supreme command on the western frontier cannot but bo of iuto the ceneral mihlic- rn^

preparation for the French attack for' the recapture of Douaumont was carried out with & secrecy which had been noticeably absent from the planning of other operations of this importance. Directly responsible for the plans was General Nivello, who from the beginning of May had been placed in direct command of the Verdun army in succession to General Petain, Petain's successor had a long record of pre-war service in the colonies. Be was an old Polytcehni(fde man, and had specialised in tho use of artillery. His career was in many respects similar to tip at of Petain. The war found him in command of the Fifth Infantry xtegiment. In October, 1914, ho commanded a Brigade. In February, 1915, he was acting as Commander of the Sixth Division, and then as General of Division ho took ovor the Third Army Corps. Invention had placed in General Nivolle's hands a very useful means of ensuring tactical secrecy, so difficult to obtain with the development of tho air services and tho swarms of kite sausages which floated above the Men so Hills. A new type of bomb for destroying these balloons, which was used with much effect later in the opening stages of th« Somme offensive, was introduced in the preparation of the French attack upon Douaumont, and before General Mangin's men were set in motion the enemy was partially blinded by the destruction by aircraft of six of his observation balloons. On June 23 General Nivelle in Army Orders said: "The hour is decisive. The Germans, feeling themselves hunted down on every hand, are launching furious and desperate attacks on our front, in the hope of reaching the gates of Verdun before themselves being attacked by the united forces of tho Allied armies. You will not let them pass, my comrades. Tho country demands this further supreme effort. The army of "Verdun will not allow itself to be intimidated by shells, and by German infantry, whose efforts it has destroyed during the pas* four months. The army of Verdun will keep its glory intact," At a later date General Nivelle, in acquainting his men with tho address of praise sent to them by the French Academy, added : " It is ono of tho greatest sources of pride for the Verdun army to have earned tho testimony of the great assembly which incarnates and immortalises the genius of the French tongue and the French race. The army of Verdun has had the good fortune to answer to the appeal addressed to it 1a the country. Thanks to its heroic tenacity, the offensive of the Allies has already made brilliant progress, and the Gfrmans are not at Verdun. Buv their task is not yet finished. No Frenchman will have earned his rest so long as there remains a single enemy upon tho soil of France, of Alsace, or Lorraine. In order to enable the Allied offensive to develop in freedom, and later on to lend us to final victory, we shall continue to resist the assaults of our implacable enemies, who, in spite of the sacrifice of tho half million men which Verdun has already cost them, have not given up their vain hopes. And, soldiers of the Eleventn Army, you will not be content with resistance; you will go on biting in ord?r to keep in front of you by constant threat the largest possible number of enemy forces, until the approaching of. tho general offensive has struck. The past is a guarantee of the future; you will not fail in your sacred mission, and you will thus acquire further claims upon the gratitudo of your country sue] that of the Allied nations."