1917-03-19 — Page 7

GERMAN PLANS.

THE ENEMY'S FORCES.

EAST ON WEST?

The superior numbers and resources of the Allies no longer compel them to take the law from the enemy's initiative, and consequently the enemy's appreciations and plans for the future are of much less consequence to us than our own, All the same it is necessary to study the war continually from the enemy's point of view, and to frame hypotheses of the courses of action which are open to him, If in the raging torrent of impressions which a great war brings with it, we are able to keep our heads and preserve some discrimination in our judgment, it is Occasionally possible to understand what the energy is about, and not to be sur prised when he sots about it.

What in the situation of the enemy from a moral and material point of view During almost the whole of the summer of 1916 he was on the defensive on his main fronts, and his successful incursion in the Wallachia in the autumn did not fundamentally alter this position of affairs. Aided by the weather, he held up at last the attacks of the Allies, and thanks to his comprehension of the fact that, the continual development of new forces is necessary for that persistent action and that renewal of offort which are the chief means of ultimate success, he deployed some 27 now divisions in the autumn of 1916, and was therefore

re able

NO DRAWN WAR.

THE - HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MARCH 19th, 1917.

MR. HENDERSON ON THE SPRING "PUSH:*

The Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson, speak ing at Norwich recently, said that the military situation appeared to some, both in neutral and belligerent countries, to have reached a deadlock. Honce there were some who feared that both the Ger- mans and ourselves would lose the money subscribed through the utter exhaustion of both countries, This view was based on the assumption that the war was going to be a draw. This assumption never was so unwarrantable as it was at this moment. (Cheers.) Why should there be a draw in a tug-of-war where there was no time limit Axed. (Chcers.) The time Taust fast be coming when in this great tug-of-war one side must pall the othe over the line. Were there not signs that we should not have to wait very ring before the other side were drawn relent lessly from their foothold

The deepest purse was going to win. Never was finanod so great and potent a factor now.

Those who knew the mill tary situation never had such confidence 88 they had to-day. When the spring or summer weather returned and our forces were called on to repeat en a more exten sive scale that which they so sucessfully achieved in the battle of the Somme the country would find that it had justly put its trust in their skill, courage, and deter mination, (Cheers,)

"THE GRAVE!”!

A GERMAN SOLDIER'S IDEA OF

THE SOMME."

The following is a translation of an article recently published in the Leipsig Illustrated Gazette (Illustrirte Zeitung) under the heading The Grava on the Somme - Toof-toot tool "Hostile aeroplanes! Take cover

That is what the signal ficans The British airman is flying very low, not more than a hundred yards high. I can hear the whirr of his propellers quite distinctly. In the trenches the car son learns to tell the Englishman by the sound of his machine

MUSIC AT THE FRONT.

QUARDS' BAND IN FLANDERS.

When the band of the Coldstream Guard,- made its pilgrimage through Flanders last year Herbert Corey sent the Glage, New York, a stirring account of their vicit

The men were glad to see us, air," said one of the band. Even the Canadians, sir. Took it very well, sir, they did. We cheered 'em up a bit not that they teeded it"

What kind of a time did you have ? ** asked Herbert Corey,

Perfectly rippin', sir." With .com: plete conviction:

Per-feck-ly rippin' 1" War Office would not be bothered by At the beginning of the war the British. his fellow is an artillery observar bands, War was a serious basinesa Sinco dawa he has been over our posi dainned serious, what and there was no tions, sending back his signals which we place in it for music. The Tommies can hear quite clearly. Now he has persisted in a regrettable light minded caught sight of something again; already In the intervals of fighting and I can detect the rushing flight of shel's dying marching and starving and suffer- approaching from the distance. We know ng they insisted upon enjoying them- They got phonographs. They the sound at least.

organised sing songs, The man with a tin

be 11in, shells at least. The earth trem- bles and a mighty pillar of mud springs aloft from where the shell has fallen, leaving a gigantic crater,

selves

became a social favourite.

PROTON CAPE MACKENZIE ROGAN="

⠀⠀ “Let me take the band out to Flanders," naked Captain Mackenzie Rogan..“ Do them good Be a bit of a treat for them. Very tiresome here in London "

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Germen, 11 Austrian,

In mid-December there were, not cennt- ing the cavalry, 198 Germau divisions in the West 100 divisions on the Russian front of which 65 wore German, 39 Austria, and two Turkish; 20 divisions on the Roumanian for Bulgarian, 12

and work eight or nine Bulgarian 19 on the Macedonies two to three German, and one Turkish and fully 33 Austrian divisions in

frout, namely,

FRENCH CAPITAL WITHDRAWN.

Hostile deroplanes! Take cover The word is passed down the trench from man to man. But there is no cover. A simple, very shallow trench is One fancies the captain is a favourite, our sole defence. I have managed to even in War Office, which has scrape myself a hole in the parapet, and favourites. Five generations of Rogans the pack of a dead comrade as a seat, first began with Marlborough when the army swore so terribly in Flanders, and I wonder if the airman has found us the fifth is Captain Rogan's son (zince Last week, as I hear from a book man out already. The trench is quite new, wounded at the front), ager (says The Central Newe Zurich cor and it was dug with every possible pre-Take half of them," said the War ary 24th), Messrs. Rothschild, of Paris, plenty of ammunition again today, to Ofen wanted to save the other balf. respondent in a delayed cable dated Janu caution. The English seem to have got Office to the captain Perhaps the Way withdrew £6,000,000 (200,000,000 francs) everything that looks like a trench, from Swiss banks. This is one of the where our brave Inds are gallantly hold. So Rogan and his 32 went upon a results of the anim fet in France ing out, is to be smashed, and ploughed musical pilgrimage into the very hottest as to

of the

part of Flanders. The men were tre- Italian theatre. Now that the withdrawal

Roumans violationsibility

Switzerland. The up by the British Heavies,

The battalion on one side of us is catch-two concerts almost every day. Nothing mendously glad to see them. They gave of French capital has manians have joined the Russians it been stopped by the assurance given bying it now. The sun is uncommonly hot but military expediency kept them from form part of their line we must admit the Government that it means to defend to day, and we are all suffering from if no divisiemy divisions oppose Rússin

have been transferred else its territory against all comers, backed up thirst I don't know why I am where in the course of the last fortnight This distribution shows that not even the central situation of the enemy, and his more perfect unity of command, which is inseparable from the geographical situation of the belligerents, allow him morg

than relativo facility for massing here or there. After satisfying all the defensive claims of his various frosts rething a strategic reserve of inconsider able magnitude for throwing this way and that, and even this reserve can only be safely used in this manner when autumn Armies on the principal fronts to a certain extent and for a certain time,

that

Succes in

Bo

playing......

Sometimes the Germans interfered.

by General Wille's declaration, in the thirsty, as I bave just finished one water. GERMANS SHELL A CONCERT. most explicit terms, that if the Germans bottle. I wonder if it is the smell of entered witzerland, the Swiss Army earth and of decaving corpses. would automatically join that of France. A gentle breeze is blowing across to us But Bwiss banke holding French securi- ties, etc, have had to agree to transfer from the enemy. It is a gas wind all them to their Geneva branches. A glance right, I wonder whether I ought to place at the map will reveal the significance another gas sentry. I feel so unsettled to-day, yet this is but a day like the of this demand.

rest we have had this sort of thing for ten days past. But gas is not much used hero: the fighting sways too much to

worry us any longer these are stado

I have always carefully abstained from Chronicling, or even noticing in any way, movements or displacements of Swiss

rains immobilize the forces; but it may be noted, as & matter and fro. Besides, a gas attack doesn't

necessary

for

of high political significance, that the Swiss German frontier between Schaff-tricks. hausen and Bale has been lined with Swiss troops in places that have never been gar risoned hitherto. This, from the Alliea point of view is further evidence of Swit.

orland's good intentions,

division have recently trickled back into the Trentino, and it is possible that the

RUSSIA..

I don't care so much for the gas shella through which we had to pass when we came up to take over the line. They make an odd sound when they burs, but their splinters don't do so much harm: I remember how we stumbed from shell hole to shell-hole until we reached the front line amid a thunderous cascade of

rushing,

One night the Coldstreamers played in awarehouse the Germans had shelled. The British engineers had put a tempor- ary roof on and turned it into a sort of cinema theatre. About 2,000 men jammed in that night. Rogan, mixed his pro gramme as he always did. He suits all tastes, Rogan does. Then he swung his bandemen into an old English melody...

"Now sing," he ordered.

It was a wonderful chorus, Rogen said. The 2,000 male voices in the gloom of the hall, the twinkling lights, the great band, the love and pity of it all—-

What's that 1 sau Bogan, logan knew perfectly well. A shell had burst hot 20 yards away. Some sny had told the Germans of the evening concert, and they were feeling for the theatre with their big guns. A shell exploding in that

might kill a

hundred might be stamped to death crowding through the one narrow door. band stopped short, the men stopped Rogan tapped with his baton. The singing

lost ground and, to recommence, the May offensive, but this time with more weight I wonder how long we shall be here. on the Isonzo front. The situation in Our orders are to bolo be thirsty. It Switzerland also needs attention and must costs. If only I were act so not be disregarded.

can only come from the penetrating But in spite of these centres of attrac odor. Freddys the small bas haunted of for they lie in

he burg, whe has always affirmed that the I hardly cat at all now. It is the same we may well believe that Hinden-mo; my food tastes of it; that is why greatest danger threatens from Buss with drinking, but you can't do without wishes to continue in 1917 the campaign. breken off in the autumn of 1915. With water. I think I'll just get my second 135 divisions on the Russian front he has water-bottle. but there is tho the power necessary for conducting a fresh humming of propellors again, and this campaign with vigour, and the current time the Englishman is coming near- operations in Roumanis tend to thrower. On our left he makes a circle in back the Russian left and to place the the air, then his monotonous toot-toot Austro-Germans in a far better posture resounds and almost at once the shells for continuing an attack on Russia than come rushing over, much nearer to us the hermans declare that they are wide

which they could bunst last autumn. now. Earth and steel are flung fur and

the Russian Armies, are exhausted

and neater.

now he is over us

You know what has happened," said ***go out quietly."

The band swung into the lilt of the

THE LAST TO LEAVE. melody again, and 2,000 men fled, two by wo, through the door, singing so they went. It was a pretty bit of courage an these bandamen. Somehow one does not expect courage from bandsten, and equally somehow they always show it One remembers the little band that played God Save the King" while the Titanic sank, and a score of other bands that have died well in their traditions. Last out of the theatre were the Coldstreamers, and last of the band was Rogan, whose exit

was greeted with a shell exploding that away 30 of the audience were killed that might arid 50 wounded,

By his leg of men, by His increasingly serious scenomic situation, and by the absence, to say the least of it, of all enthusiasm for the war among the mass of his people, the enemy is certainly very hard hit, and there can be little doubt that Hindenburg told his Imperial master

Bukarest was

German when had reched the huminating of victory and that the time had some to make the peace which the German people demand with increasing insistence The German Armies had resisted, not, indeed, victoriously but with credit, and it was obviously the best thing to do to sell out top of the market if any

Put the buyers

could

he found and the improbability of final success and the increasingly, cruel cost of continuing the war, made pears a necessity for Germany d for her confederates. Even if the defensive had been more or less, SUCCESS- fully maintained against the numerically superior Armies of the Allies in East and West the undertaking of an offensive campaign in either theatre was quite a different pair of shoca, and would meet with immense difficulties. The Central Powers not only had not the great sumers in such an enterprise, but were impressed by what they term the internal 1 press myself close up against the much inferior in men and in war disorganization of Russia, and altem that parapet. Keep still, everybody, so that terin, and the character of the war

short of war material. It remains always no don't find us out. He comes nearer than ever, thanks to the increasing num true that the Austro-German railway

So the Coldstream Guards Band made hers and armament of the Allies. But system is for superior to the Russian, and Then he seems to start in surprise and its musical pilgrimage through France. because this must have been Hindenburg's that the German Auxiliary Service Act, and he corkcrews down so low that point of view we must not run away with already in operation while Germany's you would think you could almost Sleeping on straw, shelled by day and by aight, bombed by aeroplanes, with death the idea that the enemy was exhausted. enemies have done little but talk will touch im Very cautiously I peep out and dreadfull wounds on every side, and He was and is in a position to resist supply the drafts needed for an offensive ander my steel helmet: then a wild rage persisting in regarding this as a delect- militarily for long, and even to gain campaign. Russin must certainly be seizes me. I spring up and size the riteable adventure only possible to every some further successes, It was simply prepared to find herself in 1012 the anvil of the man by my side to shoot the infortunate man, Only seeing that it was that the future contained no reasonable for the German hammer, and must make truder down. Per feck-ly rippin' prospect of decisive victory and that the her plans in

this leading But he has already turned his machine

obviously to secure the line of the

The voices are louder. They have be

day- the mouths of the Danube Thereby That is coming at you! is my first gun to destroy my grave the German line, so intulerably extended thought a big shell taken some seconds light filters in. What is that smell when Roumania came in, will be shortened in its flight, and you have time to think gas or the dead? It must be gas, to its least possible length, many enemy things out. But there is no doubt this divisions can be restored to general time. This shell is meant for us. reserve, and Hindenburg will be more Though death so cluse upon me I don'i free to use them where he will. The want to die; I fight against the thought, selenre of the Lower Danube, and use every muscle taut, every nerve strained of this river as a means of entrabse into to preserve my life. Then the beavy the Black Sea for German submarine, shell plunges into the soft ground right Thunderous crashes wake me again, would be an attractive programme, affect in front of me, the trench rocks, and I Will the shells never leave me in peace? ing adversely not only the Russian com un baried under tons of earth, as it The trench is narrow, and I am lying in it paign in Armenia but also other seems. My body is shaken as though at full length. My senses are coming camosigns of the Allies in the Eastern had jumped from a lofty window on to back to me; I put out my hand and fool winter campaign by Germany on the slip from me. So it's all over. Mediterranean. We can hardly expect a the pavement, and my senses begin to that somebody is lying by my side quite whole Russian front, as. Hindenburg's

past

this is the end. Mechanically my right quiet and contented. A violent shaking experience of such an undertaking have left unpletsent memories, but is hand had gone up to protect my face) is no open my eyes. Where am I t May all the Armies will be in movement, my steel helmet bad fallen forward the ambulance over the shell holes in the her calculations a transfer of German above my head.*.*. and Russia is not likely to exclude from little, my left hand was outstretched high weight to the left by rail and an advance on Petrograd in co-operation with the Germen

a conformity with this

internal condition of Germany, had become chile the present Germ

so bad that the whole-hearted support of

gun on the trench. Lack-the-cac-

he sweeps the trench, but in

the War by the people could no longer Perhaps the Pruth and in any vain. Then suddenly I hear a shell.

be counted upon. How bad things arc we do not know, but many reports from good sources leave no reasonable doubt that things have taken a great change for the worse in the last few weeks

THE WEST

But it takes two to make peace, and the writer is here only concerned with what Hindenburg will do if the war con tinues. Is it W be the West, Salunikn Italy, or the East that will claim the chief attention of the Marshal until the spring finds the whole of his enemies prepared to meet him with their full strength? We can put the West out of account

drst because the Germans have had such a gruelling in France, and as querer German offensive at secondly becausó a in

we cannot dare to hope for it. It is true

that we thought the same in the opening of 1916 and that Verdon followed, but German moral was then bofter, Taller any then

then ruled, and there is no parti cular

reason to the Somme have given the enemy any

to suppose that Verdun and DACES THE SEA, desire whatsoever to recommence their experiences against the

armies of France

less nemaible 1917 than in 1918.

ITALY

Like lightning my whole life flashes through my mind like a film run across the screen at express speed is over

I am dead.

for it releases me from my sufferings, The pressure is going

at last. I am passing away peacefully, gently. All I know is that the feeling of terror hrs. left me and that all is still

It

road. I feel as if every one of my ribs. were broken. The wagon is badly bung and plunges as it is driven swiftly for ward, for English shells dearly love the ronda,

____ Slowly I realise what has happened.

thrust forward over my face, had retain-

aside the Turkish theatre, the

sly are have seen my hand pro- only other operation of the enemy that and Britain, What would be has to be considered is an attack at cea and left, I can still hear the English which had been buried by the big shell Yet I still bear the shells bursting right jooting from the mass of earth ander would be never to hear the West men not be successful, but it may be tried airman sending back his algoals. Then and forthwith set to word with pick and

A break-out by the Austrian Navy should tioned again. Meanwhile big plan is to either is co-operation with, or in pre crash after ciach re-echoes in my trench shovel to dig me out. My steel helmet that bin inferiority in ls, and men, o parction for, German activity in the the parapet quakes; that is drum-fire that this inforority in the West Tuny be Worth: Sen. If the bonomic conditious Oh if only the tho would ed enough air to keep me alive for the ju Austria and Germy are as galling as me again that I might not hear for minutes that the rescue work lasted. they seem to be, we must naturally expect them still They send me down unconscious and the before long a violent effort by the Navics Now they are falling aloeer, Srst dull of the Central Powers to break the reports, then loud explosions. Those blockade. which is strangling them. This must be gas shells, Now I hear the volceg attack, if it comes, will be delivered with of my men. The shelling has ceased, all forces united and with the last degree That means they are attacking of energy. Nothing must turn our minds ahal my lads will give it to them 1 from constant expectation of this set of despair The Times.

(Conímued at foot of nest solusin.)

We cannot exclude Italy as a dentine tien for Hindenburg's floating balance of reserves, because 20 more divisions added to the 33 Austrian divisions facing Italy would give the enemy a good chance of doing something. Some few Austrian (Contintied at foot of next Valima.)

Bafety

lace bore me swiftly to a place of

My chest as very painful ab the odour of death 1, and when I sleen I can still bear the dull drowing of the English sirmen and the gurgling mah of the 1lin, shells.

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