THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12407, 27 August 1918, Page 3

THE WAR.

OVERNIGHT GABLES. ALLIED ADVANCE. THE BRITISH METHODS. PARKS, August 25. Since August 8, over ‘IO.OOO Germans have been taken prisoner on tile , British from. The British method of avoiding direct, attack on the enemy strong positions and attacking the weaker, points on the, right and left of tho strongholds, forcing‘the evacuation or surrender of them, enabled them to gain their objectives at small cost, though tho process is somewhat, slower. TREATMENT OE DESERTERS. LONDON. August 25. The Ended Press correspondent states:- -Out of the scanty reserves, badly needed elsewhere, liindenburg and Eudondorff are throwing in Prussians, Saxons. Bavarians ami marines in an effort to check the British progress on the Somme haitlelield. They have been thrown in by regiments not divisions. Some elements of the same, divisions arc now found ns far apart 'as Biofvillers and Mamet-/., Imt notwithstanding the attempts to repair the holes in the line as fast as they develop, the Germans continue retreating, only holding desperately at some points like Bapanme. in order to prevent, the complete breaking down of tho defence and the turning of the forced withdrawals into a riotous retreat. As it is the disorganisation in some places is so great that British armoured cars are enabled to harass the traffic.

A tour of the cages on. Sunday revealed that thp 40th and 23rd Saxon Divisions and the 36th Prussian division have been added to the forces on the northern part of the battlefield, tho Saxons being brought from Belgium. The prisoners included largo numbers of the Third Marines, caught eastward of Miraumoni, where they wore reinforcing the Bavarians when Miraumont was pinched off at noon on Saturday. Alsatian prisoners stated that tho Gormans are scattering them in grouns all through the army. They declared that punishment for desertion was visited on the families of deserters and in some cases sisters were sent to work in, the front line. This -was prohnhly responsible for tho stories that Germany is using women to fight on the battleline.

THE ENEMY'S DISARRAY. , , LONDON, August 20. Mr H. TV. Nevinson states that Friday night and Saturday morning represent one of tiio turning points in the present So in me campaign, and perhaps of tho whole war. A high officer, who speaks with knowledge and caniion, says that the enemy seems to be cracking.

Mr Nevinson adds: Five months ago we thought wo were, cracking, therefore it is unsafe to prophesy, but there is no doubt that the German armies opening our. Third and Fourth Amies are disconcerted.

Air Nevinson describes a walking tour over a portion of the battlefield, which, he says, was full of interesting evidence of the enemy's disarray. Ho reached the summit of the mound on which Thiepval is situated, where he 1 first met enemy soldiers. “ They were 1 prisoners, a large batch docilely following three British Guards. Over the whole of the next ridge and vnllcv beyond the Germans were, scattered. They 1 were evidence of a division which had lost its cohesion and hope, I was unarmed, yet none attempted to shoot. Some lurked in hiding places, and if detected (hoy surrendered forthwith, throwing away everything except their , clothes and a sack containing food, soap and razor. ’’ Air Nevinson saw‘a. solitary British cavalry man, armed only with an empty German revolver, prowling round ■ collecting small batches. Their talk, amongst themselves consisted of complaints against their superiors, who had caused them to lose touch with their ! companies, though all seemed glad to be captured. i : j ' RAID ON LUXEMBOURG, i . LONDON, August 26. | Tho Air.Ministry reports:—Our aeroplanes to-day successfully attacked an aerodrome and railway stations at Betten hourg, in Luxembourg, with excellent, results. ' ' j .THE AUSTRIANS REPULSED. I ■ ROAIE, August 2G. I An Italian official message says:—ln Albania there was considerable fighting in tho Semeni region. \Ve repulsed, with severe losses, a largo force which repeatedly attacked northward of Fjori. THE .SPANISH PROTEST. AAISTERDAAI. August 26. ■ ■ “■ Vorwncris ” is' greatly concerned at ! the,.strained relations with Spain, and urges the Government to prevent. Spain joining Germany's enemies, so com- • plcling the world's coalition against her. i LONDON, August 20. | -The “ Daily Chronicle's ” Amsterdam , correspondent states that the German- • Spanish relations' seem to bo causing much uneasiness in Germany. It j* staled in reliable quarters that tho situation is regarded as most serious. The German reply is couched in much stronger terms than the semi-official announcement suggested. Most of tho newspapers endeavour to conciliate ; Spanish fooling, blaming Entente pro- > pagamlii, and paying compliments to i knightly Spam," tolling Spain that : she was always fond of Germany, but an undercurrent of anxiety is plainly noticeable. . The '• Vossische, Zoitung'' points out that if Spain breaks off' relations she will carry Spanish South America with her, notably the Argentine and Chili, which- would involve an irreparable economic Joss.

The Gorman Government's f'reat.-'st ieur. apparently. i s ! that sulniiissiotf to Spain will create precedent, of which the northern neutrals will quickly lake advantage.

HEHLINERS LOSING NERVE. ' AMSTERDAM, August 26. A remarkable demonstration in the, poor qunrtors of Berlin followed a report vt hat the military age limit would shortly be raised. Excited crowds assmblcck m the streets, but dissolved on the appearance of the police. Frequenters ol a certain cale avenged themselves by throwing pictures of the .Kaiser, the Crown Prince. Hindenburg and Ludcndorff from the' windows,' ■■where were tramped on ~tho ground. Tins example was imitated hv a large number of householders. Hie ‘•Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent says;.-The past neck wdl rank as one of the, most important of the war. The events on iho Western ironi, have had a tremendous effect on the people of Germany, who are onlv now allowed to know that Ludcn(lorfl s' gamble has failed, ami that the del ensure policy must be resumed on the KeM, while Germany consolidates Iter gains in the East. ' Competent observers declare a hat the people in Kerim have completely lost their nerve.

EARM -WORKERS' WAGES. u -n \ August 2(1. Mr Pmihoro settled 'a. number of larm workers grievances, which threatened sei ion sly to atlcct the great harTest, The farmers have agreed to par ms or a lorty-lonr hours week, with Is td an hour overtime, as a. minimum wage, thus allowing the skilled men to receive more.

AMERICAN TREATIES. ' ■ ASHINGTON, August 24. An Italian-American treaty has been signed, providing for the reciprocal conscription ol subjects of military age. The dapan-Anierican arbitration ireaty has been extended for another live year-.