The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-12-18
RODERICK 0. MATHESON. EDlTOR
The Week In the War

DklNGlNO IN larger reintorCenentS ana mof'
- guns from the now quiet Russian fronts anC
with an abundance Of ammunition as result o
cessation of hostities on those other fronts, tn,
Austro-Cernlans have continued their strong Of
ensive on the Italian 'front.' made it even stronger
and kept that war theater the most active centei
Of any in all Europe. @1sr .N. r..
Multiplied man power and increased gun power
have enabled the enemies to put an intense vigo
tito their attacks upon the Allies just within thu
gates OF Italy. Some gains have been made, it i
indicated, and this the Teutons claim in the off
cial reports issued from Berlin Those gains hav,
net been large since even the German official re
porte claim taking Of only 5000 prisoners in al
Of the fighting the Italian front during the pas
week. 1t is along the Brenta and Piave fronts
where the Austro-G Germans claim their gains bu
a study OF the war map does not show these gains
10 be OF importance. On the other hand Italian
reports all tell Of the great losses which being
suffered by the enemy in the terrific assaults by
massed forces that are being thrown against thu
desperately resisting Italians and Allies Marvel
GUS as has been the Teutonic persistence, the de
tense OF the Allies has been even more wonderful
for they have been outnumbered. 1t would appea
that the present Italian-Aled positions are o
great strategic strength. ...,. r.. -.a ,|,
From the Cambria sector OF the Western from
reports differ radically, those coming from the Al
lies telling Of successful stand made against at
tacks from a greatly reinforced enemy. From thes,
reports it appears that General Haig and hi
forces are more than holding their own. The at
tacks in force OF the enemy are reported to hav,
been all repulsed and blood stained fields strewI
with dead and mangled grey clad forms is tn,
only result which the British admit. .....a= -
German victory and British reverse is the leu
tonic version Of the warfare there told in officia
German dispatches Berlin does not admit tina
Haig. won any real victory before Cambria but OF
the contrary claims that subsequent engagement
turned any advantage which he might have woI
to the favor OF the Germans. ~ VA. ~ ~
Comparison Of the daily dispatches from Thu
front with the war maps show that the British ar,
occupying not all of the positions taken at tn,
height Of General Byng's drive. British reports
EaveNtold Of the abandonment Of some of thes
and It is clear that the main British line is not 81
close TO Cambria as II was when Rupprech
launched his first turning movement which Alice
reports have called unsuccessful 1t is probable
as is claimed, that the British position is tn
stronger by reason OF the abandoning of thos
more exposed and advanced positions.
Hints at an investigation of the Cambria cam
Paign by the house Of commons were contained il
one despatch last week and in this there wer
yelled insinuations that perhaps the drive of Gen
eral Byng was not the great success that had beef
reported '.."~ '.-. 7-
Subsequent developments indicate that one sue
cess which General Byng achieved was the fore
stalling OF a Teutonic drive on the Western Front
il is evident that he did make gains and importan
oness II a German drive was thus forestalle,
those gains take an added Importance sine
they prevented the possibility Of Germany max
into h1, III
British ..' ''"'
There are indications that General Byng wa
prevented from pushing his drive to a successful
conclusion and taking Cambria by the arrival iron
other fronts, undoubtedly the Russian fronts, O
large forces of Teutons and thus it has been mad
possible for Rupprecht to dig in deep and caus
further delays in the British advance which ap
peared to be going forward so smoothly.
IL thus comes back as ever to the fact that tn
Austro- German position has been materially
strengthened by the Russian collapse and tn
work Of the Allies made proper tionately more dii
hcut. 1t does not mean in any way that the tas
has been made impossible, 1t is another argumen
that the United States must speed up 49,
In Palestine the British are again advancing am
are pushing forward out from Jerusalem. On othe
Eastern fronts the deadlock OF past weeks is un
broken. "...T".., ~,
While government officials Of England AM
France believe the solution of the submarine men
ace is at hand and that recent increased losses t
Britain result from spasmodic speeding up the
agree that It will not do tc be over optimistic eve
as to this. Lloyd George again sounds the sloga
10 speed up on shipbuilding for he reiterates it
tonnage that will win the war. And the Unite
States is speeding up its building campaign, donI
so under some great difficulties as to transporta
lion ard labor; 1t is here that the government
must do its earliest big part in the winning of tn
war s,. '......: