The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-04-30
The WeekIn the War

mezeele sector aboutitwo miles directly south OF
Ypres
After de citing the FIRST three days OF last week
to preparations the Teutons launched their latest
phase of the great offensive Wednesday and
there have followed days OF intense anxiety for,
though the Allies have held splendidly to the south
they have been forced back along Messnes ridge
and have lost the commanding position at Mount
KENNEL where they now suffer the disadvantage
previously operating against the Germans, they
must fight up from lower ground.
1t was on Friday that this serinu, turn was
reached. Bravey as the Allies fought, they were
overwhelmed by superior numbers and were
forced to give way. The seriousness OF this situ-
alton was at once evident to the observer and al
though there was asul in the violence Of the Hun
offensive on Saturday the aspect such ON Sat
afday night that numbers OF military observers
believed 1t would be found advisable for the Allies
to abandon the Ypres salient and to fall back to
new positions.
If this be found necessary the enemy Will have
achieved its purpose of its recent drive on the
northery side of the loop" and will have secured
much more elbow room, at the same time having
avoided the threatening danger of an Allied
counter on that part OF the line which would have
compelled an abandonment of most Of the territory
previously gained.
In one aspect the situation on Saturday night
resembIed that OF the week before, there was a
pause in the German offensive. The Hun losses
have again proved enormous and II is once more
impossible to attempt to proceed further without
renforcements the bringing in OF reserves OF fresh
men, But there the similarity ended, for yester
day the Huns resumed the offensive.
One week ago yesterday the Americans and
French administered defeat to the enemy at
Seicheprey. recovering the ground lost the pre-
vious day and that ground they have since re-
tla nG tha fr,, that 11Ny
there little to report except preparations.
Since then other American troops have seen severe
fighting with the French in the Hangard sector,
the Berlin reports OF Saturday night telling OF
strong attacks on the Hangard woods, chiefly by
Americans During the week there hasfbeen CON
siderable heavy fighting in that sector with the
French and Americans making some gains in the
last few days
On Tuesday the military engagements were
mostly local in character the Allies awaiting the
expected attack OF the enemy which was actually
launched upon two distinct sectors next day
Early Wednesday morning the enemy launched
great offensive from Ypres to south Of the
Somme and against the Franco American front
from its junction with the British to south of Mo-
renil Desperate efforts were made to break
through along the Luce and the Somme River and
on the Lave River, in Flanders. But position
Of importance was secured by the enemy and the
Hun losses were horrible to contemplate
On Thursday the opposing armies were locked
in grim combat with little change in the general
line On the Amen front the enemy took Hang
ard from the Franco American forces, who did not
fall back far. Elsewhere that front they were
thrown back and on Saturday night had made no
appreciable progress toward Amiens. 1t was ON
that day it became evident that to the north the
commanding position of Mont KENNEL was the
enemy's immediate OBJ jective. Tremendous mass
ed attacks were made upon it.
On Friday the Huns won this objective and al
though the British COuntered heavily they were
unable to regain this lost footing. This the
nearest approach 10 disaster Of the entire week 5
fighting and is this loss that renders the doubt
ful tenure OF the Ypres salient by the British. 1t
cuts deep wedge into the British line and opens
danger of being outaanked.
Saturday there was a hill in infantry fighting to
the south as well as to the north and such fighting
as did occur there arose from the aggresslNencs>
Of the Franco-American forces.
1t was anticipated that the next Teuton drive
would be the hills to the west OF Mount KEN
mel and the expectation was borne out yesterday
On those hills the enemy secured foohOld at
one point.
1T was on Wednesday that the great naval coup
upon Zeebrugge and Ostend was undertaken and
resulted in splendid success in practically closing
the channel at the former German submarine base
through the sinking Of cement laden ships. 1t
was daring move and well deserved every whit
Of the success which it achieved 1t will take weeks
at least Tor the enemy 10 open this channel
There nave been indications during the week
that Holland would be forced to throw lt~ late
into the balance with the Allies but latest report
indicated the Dutch fear fate similar to that Of
Belgium and they appear to be yielding generally
10 the Hun demands. The agreement as t" the
Liniburg, railway would give to the Germans a