THE GREAT OFFENSIVE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15193, 13 April 1917, Page 5

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE

DESTEI7CTION AND BRUTALITY. DELAYING THE PURSUIT. (Delayed Cables.) Reuter's correspondent at the French headquarters says that in their retreat the Germans have felled the tall elms which lined both sides of the main roads across the roads, or have sawn them half through to overhanging the roads, so that they must be felled or dragged away to allow wheeled traffic to passThe Times' correspondent at French headquarters, referring to the abduction of girls from Noyon, says that a French officer saw some captured photographs on the Somme showing naked women compelled to wait en German officers while dining. Reuter's correspondent &t British headquarters, writing on March 21, describes a visit to Nesle wherewith were afforded some striking examples of the Hun's barbarous wantonness. The enemy had hurriedly departed two days before ho had intended, and hence discontinued his work of prick-axing buildings and reducing them to mounds of rubble. The street bridges v.cre blown up. It is reported that the Germans continue to carry off batches of young women "in order to prevent *he French employing them for munition work." They also continue to out-Hun Attila in devastation. There are many stories of disaffection in the German ranks. It is known that they are finding it difficult to maintain food supplies. Some of the prisoners declare that they have been without food for some time. The once beautiful chateau of Etalon, unscathed while the German* lodged in it. is now gutted of its contents. Every window pane is broken, every door panel bashed in, and every balustrade splintered. The inhabitants of Nesle bad to attend a roll call daily, and the Mayor was made to stand alongside the cotnrrandant. Whenever a civilian failed to salute the commandant cere'TjH.nious1/ when his .'lime, th*. Mayor was sentenced to vhr»e days' imprisonment. Before reavmg Novou, the -mernj carried off securities valued at i1\900,000 francs (about £800.000) ■ IS THE RETREAT OVER? The Germans are incessantly strengthening the Lille defences ?.ud massing guns. It seems, therefor?, now certain that ihe German retreat, which is daily in spued and magnitude, haa been planned on a larger scale than originally supposed. If the St. Quentin line is evacuated, there is nothing better behind till near fte northern French frontier. Experts are divided legarding the real objeot've, some anticipating the Meuse line. :;nd others believing" that the Germans iutend to shorten the front between Lille and Metz, in a manner enabling ihe retention of the trunk railway from Valenciennes to Hirson and Mewsres. The Times, discussing the possibility of a German retreat Meusewards, points out that recent events indicate that the Germans do not intend to hold the strong defence works constructed along the St. Quentin canal, for the latter traverses open country with but few natural defences. APOLOGIES FOR- RETREAT. The war correspondent of the Lokal Aneeiger produces another apology for the retseat. He says that the German command did not intend to leave the enemy the initiative in the spring, and therefore tried to create t>n entirely new situation, while sparing the terrible bloodshed which an assault on the enemy's positions would have involved. The retreat nullified the projected British and French offensiveThe correspondent gloats over the spectacle of "Empire death" in the zone before the German positions, in which not a solitary object is left.

German apologists, however, are by no means unanimous regarding the object of the retreat. Many do not agree with the Tannenberg theory, which means open warfare, and boast that the Germans are occupying entrenched positions surpassing anything hitherto seen.

Several American newspapers publish an alleged description of the tremendous German defences in Northern France to which the Germalis are retiring. The stories are being circulated by German agents for the purpose of scaring the Allies. There are "forests of new wire entanglements,"' described as backed up by "trenches more marvellous than any hitherto constructed." this is one of several weird explanations circulated by the pro-German propaganda regarding the retirement.

SOMME EASILY CROSSED. Renter's correspondent at headouarters says that there was no trouble in crossing the Somme, although the main bridges were destroyed and the lesser ones damaged- Our patrols are now far east of the river. Prisoners recently captured unanimously stat© that the movement is having a demoralising effect, the soldiers not believing the officers' explanations. The Germans are showing distaste for participating in wholesale burnings, fearing renrisars if the Allies reach the Fatherland. There is evidence that the basiling tactics have forced the enemy to abandon lines prepared, for a stand. REPRISALS SUGGESTED. The French newspapers are most indignant at the German barbarism, especially at the carrying off of girls from Noyon and the wanton destruction of the historic castle of Cona. It is suggested that the Allies inform Germany that a German town shall be destroyed for every French and Belgian town mined. GERMAN THOROUGHNESS.

Mr Beach Thomas (Daily Mail correspondent) describes how the Germans, in their vindictive and wanton destruction of the abandonee! territory, even crucified cats on doors. Renter's Berne correspondent refers to the significant admission of the proGerman Swiss newspapers. One paper says that the retreat of the Germans spells the abandonment of hhe policy of the war map. The Germans were forced to retreat in order to effect the reconcemfcration of the rear, and gain greater freedom of movement. SLOWING DOWN. Router's correspondent at headquarters (under date March 23) reports the worst of posaible wintry weather. It had almost brought operations to a Standstill. The enemy is offering a more organised resistance, particularry along t?ie line running north-north-west from ihe Bois de Sauvy, which is three miles west of St. Quentin. He continues to maintain strong covering patrols »od ovahy guards in the rawwfc jHHrsbersy,

sector, where many machine guns a«i posted at vantage points. It is cleatf that he wants to prevent us advancing with the same rapidity as hitherto.' The moat tremendous activity prevail behind our new front, where the troops are making the road 3 and railways. Tha inhabitants left befcind state that the Boches are talking a good deal latery, and know more of the true situation than is generally believed. They do no| conceal their apprehensions of the pros* pects of another great British offensive —« indeed, one possible reason for the re* treat may well fcave been the doubt o{ the higher command whether the inert would face another Somme. As a stafg officer remarked to me, "Don't youf think there's a good deal in this very simple idea—that the Boohe is quitting because he knows he's beaten?" Behind the recovered territory many} thousands are toiling day and nigh 6 clearing up the ruination left by tn« Germans. The Eoyal Engineers are) working magnificently, especially buiki* ing at the greatest speed bridges able to bear tfee heaviest transport. Masses ol troops appear and vanish bewildering* The villagers agree that the German soldiers were practically and exerosijeiy fed on inferior bread and marmalade* and a little canned meat, while the rffi* cere' fare was very little better. THE LIBERATED VILLAOEBB. Correspondents relate heaxt-reodhbgi stories of the conditions of the inhahM tants of the re-occupied districts of Prance. At Nesle were found famisbecl children wandering ghost-like amid tb« mins of their homes with bluish faced and heavy-lidded eyes. Some were pros* trated and wanly smiled at the soldiers* who supplied them with the first feocl for days. The enemy is sending women between 17 and 25 to the fortresses of Mauhwige to make munitions. The residents' faces and gestures de 4 pet weakness and illness and mental d"e* snair. There are pitiful stories of the invaders' last brutalities. The •vere assembled while their homes werg destroyed. They were enslaved and l»*e* lv almost starved. There was a Mfh mortality owing to lack of milk *nd other necessaries. Girls and women were insulted, and there is an authenticated case of a German murdering a girL The people of one village, inolwlmg the priest and the Mayor, were lined up to be shot, because a few villagers watched a battle from the church tower.; Renter's correepondent at Paris (undo* date 28th March) states that interes* is now concentrating on the sector ol St. Quentin, which both the Fwocfci and the British are approaching. Titai French capture of the Bssigny platean, immediately south of the town, i« notable, as it commands a gap which i& a direct strategic route between Barid and Belgium, and also marks a ooa-« siderable step towards outflanking thft town. The "Germans, recognising th<t importance of the position, made numerous counter-attacks, all of wfcicii. were shattered with heavy loss.