The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. THE COUNTER-STROKE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13815, 20 July 1918, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. THE COUNTER-STROKE

. The news received during the past few d;iys from the seat of war is perhaps on the whole the most heartening to hand since the struggle opened. It indicates that not only has the enemy's latest onslaught been arrested, hut that the long-anticipated counter-offensive has been launched, the Allies effectively striking at two or three different points. From this it would appear that a decisive stage, in the conflict has been reached and, while it is yet too early to jbbilate, the Allies certainly have no reason to be downhearted at the more recent developments. The enemy expected much of his latest offensive, but he made little headway, being brought to a standstill by the Americans, French and Italians before he had time to get fairly under way. Having the initiative, it was for him to decide where he would launch lus attack in force, and thus he had the Allied Command at a great disadvantage. The element of surprise is a very important factor in warfare, and it contributed in no small degree to the progress made by the enemy on previous occasions. He struck where he was least expected, anil the positions which he assaulted being lightly held, he pushed on with celerity, overrunning niuc,h territory before sufficient force could be concentrated to withstand him. (in the List occasion he found the Allies prepared f"i' Ids r ption. and his enterprise failed, which is tantamount to a serious reverse in itself. It was soon apparent that his attack againsl the French and the Americans was no "feeler," hut his main effort ; and its '"•in*: hc[,| up means Ilia) his elaborate plans have miscarried ;m ,| tii tL Weeks de\ (l |ei| |,, cncenl ration ha\e I" ''ii wasted. In the nie.mtiiin the Americar-s. Urilisl: and French are d. livennt; heavv Plows al oilier points Hie in*! cations hejnir that Ihe initiative lias de|inile|\ pas-.-l I'n.in l.udend< ri'!' • " Forh, and lh.it Ihe |,,Uer will henceforth call the lime in which the former

will luivc tn move. Tin; rounler-offen-Sivi.' lias boon long in cuniiny, and in some quarters considerable impatience lias been manifested in cons"<|uerice; but it lias evidently been the lixe.i reS"lve of the Allied Command that il would not strike until it was absolutely assured that it pould dn so effectively, That lime lias apparently arrival. Tie' enemy has reached his limil, and is ■'dioul to suffer the nroil. || would, however, be folly to conclude ||,,(, ||„i

struggle is over, or Ilia! II ml is even in si.uht. An Allied Vl < ;,,ry ~„ u„. ,„.,,_ sent fields Would, nil dnllbt, p, a li.iijj way towards that consummation, but ''Veil then there wool,] be a rough and ''"">' road ahead winch must be traversed ere Ihe power of the civ ny to du evil is broken, and the will of the Hun rendered more am <v, ' :'■ . laws of Cod and humanity.