THE 1917 CAMPAIGN.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 87, 14 April 1917, Page 5

THE 1917 CAMPAIGN.

ARTICLE BY FRENCH MILITARY CRITIC.

HINDENBURG PREPARING AN OFFENSIVE.

DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIUM AETILLERY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 13, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, April 13. # Professor 'Bidou, the famous military critic of the Journal dcs Debats, in ah article in Land and Water, discussing the 1917 campaign, says: "It is obvious that yon Hindenburg is preparing for an offensive, retreats being a favorite ■preliminary to Hindenburg's offensives.- He hopes to resume the offensive movements now suspended on the Western front. For 2| years the Germans have been training troops in the rear in exercises where trench warfare plays quite a subsidiary part. They are also greatly developing their medium artillery, which is both powerful and mebile, at the expense of -artillery _ imposition.' The alarming pulverisation of the- German positions on the Somme showed that uo position is safe from the "British artillery. The troops in shelters had no time to come out and meet the assault, and whole units were thus captured. "The Germans now realise that mea must he withdrawn from their dug-outs as the guns are withdrawn from the fortresses. The Germans "intend to refuse battle and to yield ground when an offensive is disclosed. They will thus gain several weeks before a new attack is possible. The German medium artillery will reach perfection in June. . If he can avoid Sefeat until then Hind-mburg intends an offensive with masses of manceuvrers, created by deducting a fourth of the regiments from divisions and a re-organisation which will produce thirteen new divisions, armed with extremely powerful artillery.