The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-04-23
RODERix .. MAfHEsoE EDIrOR
The Week II the War

HOURS to try the courage and determination
n ii OF the men on the battle front, hours that
have tried the faith Of the people at home that
have clouded hope with doubt, have been met dur
i,a he past week. Yesterday it appeared that
those hours have gone and have left behind them
!. restored and a renewed confidence. The clouds
have been riven and through the riffs rays OF
brightness can now be seen.
aBr;tish retain hold upon Messines Ridge and
repel all attacks" was the headline that Summar-
ized the news from the great battle the Western
Front last Monday morning British satisfied
with late results Of the great battle" summarized
the news yesterday morning. Then came the
critical period Of the Flanders fighting. Wave
upon wave, army corps after army corps, fresh
troops to replace those that were weary and had
been decimated, swept almost irresistbly against
and upon the British positions. On Monday the
line still held but it was growing evident that
ground must be yielded On Tuesday the greater
part OF, Messines ridge was either lost or aban-
doned by our Allies They fell back to higher
ground and were holding their new positions in
the face Of the heaviest Of assaults.
But this appears to have been the summit OF Ger
man effort for the week BY "Wednesday night it
had become evident that the enemy recognized
that II had thrown its forces into such position
that tenure Of the ground obtained by the heed
less expenditure Of flesh and blood was precarious
He must widen out the wedge into which he had
forced ms Srnen or must meet counters which
would most probably result in the loss of those
new positions and most of the ground gained in
the whole period Of the offensive.
By the falling back of the British and the gains
Of the Germans the battle line had taken on a
form not unlike an 49," In the upper loop OF the
y IS" the Germans found themselves. Safety toI
them meant the pushing back OF the lines to the
L az. a.rxlt OUT
the British line In these Efforts they have moi
succeeded. Their position was yesterday almost
the same as on Thursday, except that they have
lost some positions which they then held. In ;
sense il is weaker while the British stronge
and still threaten the enemy with counters which
would be difficult If not impossible to check.
Thursday, enemy efforts were all day long di
rected toward broadening out the loop of the IS
and fresh troops were thrown into the battle. Tn
legions OF Won Hindehburg smashed at point afte
point but were forced back iesying the battle he
heaped deep andsh igtr with their dead and wound
ed Using an army division to each mile Of tel
mile front Won Hindenburg was still unable t
gain Ii the face of this tremendous enemy effor
the British countered both to the north and tn
south of.Ypres. Not only did they counter, the
gained ground and took prisoners.
ILL., And on Friday came the hull A wearied enem
was so weakened that it was necessary to rect
perate and to reorganize Inclement weather ais
retarded efforts by either side. And on Satu
day the lull continued Whether the enemy effol
had spent itself completely can not be said BIT
this is not believed. 1t is expected that, with r.
( Inducements brought up, renewed assaults Wi
be launched The enemy must win ground or Il
position is Of doubtful strength.
Meantime the world is watching, waiting an
expecting the opportune moment for the drive
the Allies, the great counter, to be launche
against an enemy that has worn itself dow
through the sheer exerton of its own attack, e:
hausted its vitality weakened its morale and sa
riiced its own man-power strength.
1t is not clear that the enemy has won enoue
to warrant the awful sacrifices he has made
is not evident that any important objective HI
been secured. 1t is not even apparent that he
in position to hold what he has and apparent
ne must sacrifice thousands more of his men b
FORE if at ALL he is able to insure his own safet
Losses to the British must have been terrib
but these are fractional to the losses which Il
enemy has invited by its tactical course and utt
disregard Of Teuton lives.
- w. s. S. -