INITIATIVE PASSES FROM THE GERMANS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13851, 31 August 1918, Page 5

INITIATIVE PASSES FROM THE GERMANS

By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright. THE GERMAN WITHDRAWALS hopes of forming a line on four river fronts. MORALE AND DISCIPLINE DECREASING* WITH INCREASING IIU DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDERS. MANY DIVISIONS DISPOSED TO SURRENDER FREELY. ALLIED CAPTURES SINCE JULY 18th, 120,000 PRISONERS AND 2000 GUNS GERMAN DEAD DEFINITELY KNOWN TO EXCEED 2,000,000. (The Timet.) LONDON, August 29. Since August Bth the British have taken 52,000 prisoners and captured 550 Runs The Allies since July 18th have taken 120,000 prisoners and 2000 cuns It is expected that the Germans will attempt to hold the line from the Ailette to the Oise, Somme and Tortille until the campaigning season has finished when they hope to retire to the Hindenburg line unmolested. Though the enemv is displaying considerable determination, his morale and disclaim are deSasL. Disobedience to orders and laxity of officers m punishing offences is increasing. Captured orders show that new drafts refused to enter the line. It is unwise to form expectations of a German collapse, but the morale is very low and many divisions are surrender freely, is definitely known that the German dead exceed 2,000,000. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Rece'ved August 30, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, August 29. The published estimate to which the German authorities admit, that the total of the German killed is 1,400,000, is greatly under the mark. The real figures are well oyer 2,000,000, and m&y be much gieater. ENEMY FIGHTING A SPIRITED REARGUARD ACTION AT PLACES. DESTROYING SUPPLIES WHICH ARE TOO HEAVY TO BE REMOVED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received. August 30, 5.50 p.m. LONDON, August 29. Writing on Thursday morning, Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters says that on the Somme the enemy is lighting a spirited rearguard action at places, but it seems clear that his great desire is to get back to settled line of retreat as rapidly as possible. They are burning and blowing up such supplies as are too heavy to be hastily removed. We are still within 2000 vards of the Drocourt-Queant line, but have cleared the tortuous intermediate zone of machine-gun nests and established an excellent defensive flank northward of the Scarpe. A feature of the battle is the exceptionally large number of enemy scouting aeroplanes, which are fighting in big formations, 22 Fokkers being counted in one flight, and there were faveral others of between 15 and 20. GREAT SATISFACTION IN AMERICA AT THE ALLIED PROGRESS. ENEMY MAY BE FORCED BEHIND LAST YEAR'S LINE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received August 30, 5.50 p.m. * NEW YORK, August 29. The Times' Washington correspondent says that there is the greatest satisfaction in military circles at the Allied progress on the West front. Experts express confidence that Marshal Foch will be able to drive the Germans behind the line they occupied last spring. GERMANS TRYING TO SHORTEN THEIR LINES AND ECONOMISE MEN. PROBABLE RETIREMENT AGAIN TO THE HINDENBURG LINE. MORAL EFFECT IN GERMANY AND ON THE ARMY WILL BE VERY GREAT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received August 30, 5.50 p.m. LONDON, August 29. The latest developments make it sufficiently clear that the Germans intend to retire to a shorter line, where they can pbtain a better defensive position and economise troops, the necessity for which his man-power situation makes urgent. It is not improbable that he will retire to the Hindenburg line, but there is reason to think he will try to postpone this as long as possible, hope to defer it until the weather makes active operations impracticable. The moral effect of such a retirement, both in Germany and on the German army, will be very great. The enemy's present intention, therefore, is to make a stand on some line west of the Hindenburg line. There is a very favourable line along the Ailette, Oise, Somme and Tortille rivers. ALLIES MAY NOT PERMIT RETIREMENT IN GRADUAL STAGES. BRITISH ADVANCE THREATENS THE HINDENBURG SWITCH. FURTHER PROGRESS HERE WILL ENDANGER WHOLE GERMAN PLAN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received August 30, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, August 29. It remains to be seen whether Germany will be allowed to carry out the retirement according to their plans in gradual stages. The British advance on both sides of the Scarpe is a serious threat. On this line we are already almost in contact with the Hindenburg Drocourt-Queant switch, and it is clear that the enemy cannot allow us to advance much further in this quarter without endangering his whole plan, hence his determined resistance there. The German resistance varied greatly in different parts of the battlefield. Although some of the divisions fought with their old determination, others are surrendering very freely.