The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-09-19
.
Sir Douglas Haig Announces In
official Statement That Thus
Far Operations In France Have
Been important and Successful
40. ~ 81
aa-.t srt -'----- W.
GENERAL WITHDRAWAL
~ OF TEUToNS EXPECTED
indications Point To Retirement
North Of Liege Or Line Of Ant
werp, Namur and Mezieres To
Consolidate Their Forces

tAssOeia.sd Press by Federal wlrsls.s,

~ ARIS, September 1g-Biting still
deeper into the Teuton lines
north Of the Somme, the British
yesterday continued their steady ad.
vanees, hurting back counter attacks
and gaining more ground. North Of
Flers, which fell into the hands Of the
territorial troops the ether day. they
struck ia the direction OK Faucourt
l'Abbeye and along Q front of more
than a mile they pushed the men un-
10, back more than 1000 yards.
In this section Of the front they are
now in full command Of the high
ground that leads TO and controls the
approaches TO Bapaume and they are
pressing forward without stopping IN
their strides Since September IA they
have advanced along the front between
TMepyal and Combles between mile
lehds q mile and one hglf !. The Width
| W thiS. ffPnt D Abce ~ ! ~ : :.
9be crow hies, but much more II the
liodentations Of the line are followed.
General Haig issues Statement
Sir Douglas Haig, commander.in- chief
of the British forces in France, issued
statement last night dealing with tho
gains made by the men under his com.
mand. He declared that the operations
now underway were "most important
and have been most successful from
all points of view.y ~. - x
The publication of this statement in
stantly revived the reports of an in
tended retirement by the Germans to
new line of defense farther to the
east. Constant reports from Holland Of
late have told Of enormous military
activity behind the German lines. In
quiries in financial and commercial cir
cles in touch with Holland have elected
the fact that the belief prevails in that
country that Germany probably will at
tempt to shorten her present line in
the West. and that before long.
1t is pointed out that If the pressure
of the British and French continues
the German line must break at some
point, and II is insisted that Germany
is beginning to feel the need Of more
men or q shorter line to defend. The
attacks of the Russians in the East
and of the Allies in Macedonia are
also beginning to tell heavily upon Teu.
| tonic resources in men and munitions,
great as they still undoubtedly are.
Two Possible New Lines 4 Fl.
There are two possible lines to which
the German grand command might re-
tire, should such step be found 2neccs-
sary or advisable. One Of these is as
far back as Maastricht, which is stu.
ated on the Dutch frontier north of
Liege. 1t is believed, however, in Hol.
land that if the pressure becomes much
more severe in the East and West Field
Marshal Won Hindenbprg will suggest a
withdrawal to the line Of Antwerp,
Namur and Mezieres. -
This, Of course, would mean surren.
dering the whole of western Belgium
and much Of the portion of northern
France which the Germans now hold,
and the German line would then stand
on the front of the Meuse and the Ar.
dennes, where German engineers have
been busy for months preparing for
such a contingency. They have been
particularly active about Namur and
Antwerp, where the fortifications have
been strengthened in every possible
way. ..a. .l.e -.
Reports from Holland declare that
the prestige of Won Hindenburg with
the people of Germany is to be used
to make such a retirement possible with.
out affecting the people too much 1t
is believed that the victor Of Tannen.
burg could recommend such a move,
ment with safety, especially if ii
should be accompanied, as IL is believed
it would be, by a declaration that Ger,
many will never surrender Antwerp.
Move Would Be Wise One
MiH'arr critics here declare that
such Z NOV, on the part Of Germany
would be a wise one. They point ont
that by so doing she would release at
least three-quarters Of million men
for use in the East and in Macedonia,
where heavy pressure is expected and
where the Allies are said TO be forging
ahead again, after minor reverses at