The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-04-16
THE HAWAIIAN GAZETTE
AoORd6 Ms T TUz 1pn %o ,s,. THE ADVERTISERS WY
THE ADVERTISERS SEAg.wEEIY
The Week In the War


@ INCE the first advance of the Germans against
- Paris was checked there has probably been no
more critical stage in the than the present peri
Along a front of fully 100 miles battle is in
progress There are sector and salients where the
battle RACES more herCely than others, proceeds
with a violence possibly never before known.
Such have been the conditions for the past week
and while, up to Sunday morning, the situation
seemed to be somewhat improved over those OF
Thursday and Friday, it cannot be said that the
crisis has been fully passed. -
Last Monday the second phase of the German
offensive had come to an end and the engage
ments in Picardy more or less isolated the
day previous TO that time the offensive had
been somewhat of disappointment to the Ger
mans They had made gains but had not ac-
CURED single important objective. That day at
tacks were no longer directed against the Armen-
tiers salient but attention was turned to the north
and south in an effort to widen the wedge that
had been driven against that objective.
On Tuesday the offensive shifted further
north and directed against the British and the
Portuguese forces from Givenchy, south of Lens,
to the northward far as lie Bassee In that
sector some important gains were made and the
Allies gave ground.
On Wednesday the enemy selected yet anoth-
or salient the Ypres sector, and the third battle
of Ypres was started with terrible fury Here
also the British gave some ground and retired to
new positions. Next day the Germans were able
to win little advantage, still pushing vast massed
forces against the northerly end of the Allied line.
On Friday however. definite crisis an
nounced by British leaders 1t was then Haig
appealed and Maurice announced the crisis Near
Bailleul the fighting heaviest. Here the en-
emv fought to secure the railroad line.
This appeared to be the turning point for the
week On Saturday, the British held much bet
ter. Berlin claimed gains but the enemy was driv-
Ell from several positions occupied on Friday.
The efforts of the Huns were Immediately cent
cred on the railroad connecting Haxebrouck with
MeSsnes Ridge AT no point were the British
lines of communication cut and the Teuton ad-
vance along the Lys River was entirely checked.
During all of this period there has been some
heavy fighting along the French sectors especial
" during the early part of the week when some
ground was yielded. Against the French, how
ever, no such titanic efforts have been directed
and the Germans achieved less of success.
The American sector near Toul saw some hard
fighting during the week, but nothing to COM
pare with the greater battles raging elsewhere.
The fighting was, however, sufficient to test the
metal of the American fighters and they re-
ported to have stood the test magnhcently, re-
pusing every attack, taking prisoners, and more
than holding their own against enemy infantry
and artillery.
| Beyond the mention of the fact that American
forces are in the main engagement and one or two
indefinite mentions of localities there has been no
news of importance American participation
| The same question which presented itself a week
ago presents itself now: "Do the gains of terri
tory made by the Germans warrant the terrible
loss OF manpower they have sustained? With no
important Objectives secured, with the British
line holding in the battle for the channel ports, it
would seem that such successes as the Teutons
have acheN ed by means constitute impor-
tant victory but are the contrary, very doubt
full victory.
What the casualties have been on either side is
unknown all that is known is that they must have
been enormous.
| Other theaterS of the war have been almost en-
tircly omitted from the news of the week to reach
| Honolulu Nothing has been heard from the Ital-
ian front nor from the east with the exception of
: Palestine where north of Jappa Turco-G German
offensive reported launched
Interest attached to the Geneva despatch rela-
| tive to activity at German naval bases 1t is hard
to believe it is the Teuton purpose to sally forth
the risk of decisive naval engagement but cues
will be turned in the direction of the navy Just
the same.
Submarine losses showed decided falling off
and the shipping situation materially improved
during the week. The Hun campaign OF sea ruth
| lesNnces is once more at low ebb
w. S. S.
Ni>count Ishii gave some timely and important
statements to the world in his interview yester-
day. He has the happy faculty Of directly and
tritcIy saying what the occasion may demand His
summary OF international situations will only tend
t, further increase the confluence which he won
here and in the States his visit as head OF the