The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-02-19
TR ADYERTISERS SIMl.WEEKLY
The Week In the War

|
10 have hcen set for the commencement of tn,
great German offensive has come and gone with
out any serious operations by the enemy indca
tons have not been wanting that preparations ar,
going steadily ahead back Of the Teuton lines ant
a stage of preparedness is being reached. e SPIT
| Meantime the Allies have not been idle. Tn,
reports for the week have told of numbers Of raid
by the British and the French and Of some by tn,
Germans II has evidently been the purpose o
the Allies to "feel out" the enemy and to gair
valuable information Of the strength of various
Teuton positions. .9Hsr.. ~ ..1 |
| Back of the German lines it is known that large
forces are being massed This is reported by. tn,
air scouts, the value of whose information canno
be over-estimated In former days such prepare
tons might have gone on to completion with al
most no information reaching the other side
Modern war methods give the Allies a definite
idea of Teuton plans and consequent opportu
nifty to meet and contravene them. -.- E..
Weather conditions will probably control tn,
situation on the Western front The winter ha,
heen cold, wet and rainy. Especially in Flander:
the ground has become thoroughly saturated anc
Doggy so that few days of dry weather which
give promise OF ground upon which movement.
! of men and guns would be possible are hulli6eC
by rain which in the autumn would have beer
small deterrent to intended actions
From the Italian front little news has been re
ceived. Such news has come from that theate1
has indicated the position of the Italians and the
Allies to be stronger than ever before
In the American sector Our khaki clad boys have
been seeing some real warfare, 1t develops thai
in this sector at points the trenches are right NJ
against those of the Germans AS yet no con
certed attack has been made by either belligeren
and such infantry engagements as have occurred
have been merely skirmishes or meetings o.
patrols. Reports say the Americans chafe at not
heing permitted to make raids on the enemy ir
retaliation for those which the enemy made upor
them and fear the people at home will consider
them a useless lot unable to take care of them
selves" One captain said he had thoroughly re-
connoitered the enemy positions and knew of al
least three different points where he could sue
cessfully raid the enemy and get away with it
but could not make such raids because OF the i'm
| plicit orders forbiddng them.
In Great Britain the government party had some
troubles in the house of commons early in the
week which seem to have resulted largely to the
satisfaction of the premier. There is evidence
| that the British people are in some numbers dis
appointed over results secured and in consequence
OF this, it is surmised, change in the staff has
been deemed best, thus bringing about the reSig-
nation of General Sir William B. Robertson On
the face of it this seems of similar nature to the
sentiment expressed in some sections Of this coun-
try following the investigation Of the war depart
ment especially ON the subject of some of the
expressions and sentiments reported OF Secretary
Baker.
In congress there is still the possibility OF a
clash between the administration and the ma ority
of the committee on military affairs and their sup
porters in the senate and the house. 1t has been
tbatC has take he
turn it has because of the impressions which may
| go out to the world OF lack of harmony in wal
affairs conduct If it will check the injection Of
partisan politics into the conduct of the il
Twill have accomplished results which may well
counter balance any i'll effects.
| In combating the submarine menace the de
velopments have not been significant. There is
every indication the taking of destroyers for the
conveying of troop ships will open the way tc
| larger successes against the merchant marine by
the enemy undersea craft though they may neglect
| such opportunities in efforts to get the Amer
cans" en- voyage.
| In the north of Europe conditions remain un
settled. 1t is claimed by the Central Powers they
have peace treaty with the Ukraine and Ru
mania is about to open up negotiations for peace
with probability of treaty with that country
Against the Bolshevik government Germany is
lready to take the aggressive and resume hostil
ties. 1t is reported Austria and Bulgaria will not
agree to this. Bulgaria is said to have already
entered upon separate treaty with the Bolshivik
and Austria is ready to grant more time in the
hope Of an eventual agreement If let alone Aus
tria might secure this by waving indemnites and
territorial acquisitions. However, the Contra
Powers achieve their main point in a Ukrainiar
peace in that from that source they may be able
to greatly needed food Supplies.
When Secretary Baker explained before the
senate military committee that certain things ir