The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-06-11
RODERICK 0. MATHESON. EDITOR
The Week In the War

phase OF
renewal OF assaults was directed upon the sahent
between %ovon and Montidider and some con-
siderable gains were reported although the latest
French official reports said that the Allied lines
had steadied and were holding The front in yes |
terdav's fighting about twenty miles IN length
One phase Of the long continued offensive end
ed last week without the enemy securing single
important objective True this stage OF the offensive
added to the terrain battered torn and barren that
lies behind their lines but question whether
tins territory is worth even modiCum OF what
II has cost them. 1t is more doubtful II their
positions are as strong and as tenabIe as they
were week ago. AS a matter OF tact they have
not been able to hold considerable amount OF the
terrain which carried by the first force OF their
fierce 0nslaughtS.
One Of the most salient features OF the news of
the week from the Western front related to the
apparently important part that American forces
have Dla, ed in the fighting OF the week. They APP
pear to I've no longer in the most remote sense
"ncgIigibe factor but on the contrary to nave
proved a tangible and valuable asset to the forces
e. democrarv, one that the enemy failed to reckon
in its calculations.
Referring to this American participation the STU
alrcmc War Council has said that American CO.
operation has helped make and will still further
make it impossible for the enemy to gain victory
by the wearing down of the Allied reserves before
their own reserves are depleted to the exhaustion
point They praise the conduct OF the American
soldiers and the morale which is being shown "
One week ago it announced that the
strength of the Allied reserves was being felt by
The enemy Their smashes broke down. the
French countered hard and their lines began to
SWAY hack against the assaults to which they were
subjected.
On Monday the offensive appeared to be check
ed although heavy fighting continued with the Al
lies becoming steadily more aggressive 1t was
ON that dav and on Tuesday that the reports OF
splendid service by American forces began to come
in 1t was told how they he ped to hold the huns
at the apex of their drive and where they were
closest to Paris.
On Tuesday the enemy was put upon the deten-
yive and Berlin admitted that halt had come
In the Allied offensive movements which followed
the Americans were strongly felt as is shown by
the French reports we'll as those from American
Headquarters Almost troops went INTO the
battle within half hour after their arrival at the
front and went into it with a dash and vim which
tore up the enemy lines. This was on tuesday,
md on Wednesday well. On Thursday they
were even more aggressive, badly smashing thu
enemy at three points. Soldiers and Marines alike
won glory. On Friday they swept the enemy bacl
along a SIN mile front to depth OF two and hal
miles and ON Saturday gains were continued al
though they not so rapid.
On the Italian front the long expected and Otter
Official reports from Rome and the Italian head
quarters have told Of the massing OF troops an'
have time and again said that the expected often
sive might be expected at any time
After several weeks OF silence MesOpOtamla ha
again been heard from. There some feeln
NJ anxiety to conditions there as IT was reporte
that great forces Of Germans and Turks were OF
yaniling but the comparative meager news tina
has come through is quite favorable and tells {
continued favorable progress of the British can
pagn.
During the week the residents OF the Easter
United States found the not 500 mile
away but almost at their doors Tor came the new
Of enemy diver raiders but a short distance of tE
Atlantic coast While this news was something
a shock it was only to have been expected.
would not even have been surprising II seapar
raids should have been attempted at points alor
the Atlantic Coast Those have not as vet bee
attempted
The presence of raiders along the Atlantic is
distinct menace to cOastwise traffic and cOmmcr
but as vet the loss in tonnage has not been II
portant The vessels destroyed have been snIa
the largest only little more than $500 tons al
number seven steamers and eight schooners.
'hese three are foreign craft, two beng OF NOrw
gian and one Of British registry.
Without doubt the purpose OF these RAIDS h
been an underlying one The enemy seeks to che
the rapid movement overseas of American rool
They seek, through intimidation, to halt depa
ures but in this they have failed for the trOopshl
and provisions going forward uninterrupted
They seek to cause the withdrawal Of AmerC
war vessels from other zones to waters neal
home and this they will not achieve Shippi
will be turned as close to the shore line as safe
will permit which will enable air scout, to do b