Out of the mass of telegrams which have come to hand since the commencement of the German assault on the Low Countries it is possible to obtain some idea now of what is happening. It is clear that the German offensive, with all the benefits of the element of surprise, has not made the progress which the German high command expected of it. It is apparently true that the Germans have reached the North Sea in Friesland, but, as the extreme north of Holland was not included in the main scheme of defence, and the possibility of its falling into the hands of the enemy having always been reckoned upon, this amounts rather to a concession on the part of the Netherlands, and a wise one at that, than anything in the nature of a major success for the Germans. The advance into Belgium from Maastricht on the other hand is somewhat more important, for it means the breaching of the Belgian defences at this point. That this has occurred reflects not one whit upon the Belgians, and is the result of a singularly.bad piece of luck. The officer entrusted with the task of destroying two bridges near Maastricht was killed by an aerial bomb before he could carry out his orders, and the enemy was able to occupy the bridges. To some extent this was rectified by the bravery of another officer, who reached one of the bridges, and set off the mine chambers sacrificing his life in order to destroy one of the two channels through which Germany sought to pour in troops. The second bridge apparently still exists and is in the line of communication along which German forces have been able to advance into Belgium forcing the Belgian troops to retreat as far as Tongres, whence later the enemy were able to send advance elements as far as Varennes, slightly over twenty miles from Maastricht. It is expected that, with the arrival of reinforcem-nts, the enemy will be held up in this area, and un-Jess he can manage to increase the narrow salient he has created there is always the possibility that it will eventually be nipped out. All along the rest of the frontier defences the position has been maintained and affords good reason for optimism.
Probably the best summing up of the situation is to be found in the statement made by M. Hubert Pierlot, the Belgian Prime Minister, in a frank outline of the situation in which he stated that the Allied advance was quite satisfactory. They had to bear a shock from a formidable opposing army, and the military situation, though not compromised, is not free from difficult moments, The methods with which the enemy are conducting this campaign is marked with all the bestial brutality which experience has taught the world to expect of them. Open towns are being bombed, civilians machinegunned and international law, supposed to control combatant conduct in times of war, again is being completely disregarded. Not the least striking of these infringements is the manner in which the German parachutists are being clothed in Netherlands uniforms, civilian clothes and even clerical costume:
The Germans, of course, deny this, but rather let the cat out of the bag by averring that their parachutists are arrayed in special uniforms. Why that should be passes all understanding, and admitting for one moment that the enemy is telling the truth,.—a most dangerous assumption,—the difference in uniform can only be for the purpose of treachery. It is to be hoped that Low Countries will follow the line adopted by the French who have announced that any Germans, wearing uniforms other than their own, found in France will be immediately shot. That is a perfectly proper decision to make, and when it becomes known should have the effect of considerably diminishing the enthusiasm of men sent out on what will in the circumstances become merely a suicidal errand. The Germans on their side threaten "immediate and most violent reprisals" for any ill-treatment of German parachutists, which merely means they will continue to do what they are already doing. The fact of the matter is that such men clad in recognized uniforms are fully entitled to be treated as ordinary combatants and made prisoners should they surrender, but a man in disguise behind his enemy's lines can and should be treated with no more consideration than a spy.
In Italy demonstrations are being staged against the British in a manner which clearly indicates the artificiality of their inspiration. It is not suggested for one moment that the Italians are or should be pro-Allied, but it is known that they are definitely not pro-German. Thus these agitations and the violence of the Italian press may be taken as a political demonstration in aid of Germany. Coming coincidentally with the German onslaught on the Low Countries they are a part of the Rome-Berlin Axis policy of giving each other mutual support in an endeavour to divert the Allies from the task immediately in hand. It will not succeed. This continual threat of the possibility of Italy entering the war on the side of Germany has been offset by the Allied di: positions in the Mediterranean and the Near East, and these Italian demonstrations should be given their true value which, after all is said and done, is not great. For the rest it has now to be borne in mind that Herr Hitler is now making his great throw in the hope of obtaining a smashing victory in the next few weeks. It is a gamble necessitated by the growing desperation of the German plight, and the pressing need of securing victory this summer. The enemy fears to face another winter such as that through which Europe has passed. In the hope of avoiding such a thing the whole of Germany's resources are being thrown into ihe fray, a process which may be continued until either victory, or exhaustion results. There is nothing whatever in the present situation to justify any degree of pessimism, but rather to encourage a quiet optimism. The results obtained up to the present by the enemy are so small as to be out of all proportion to the magnitude of the thrust which is being made, and the advantage they had of the initiative. The early claim that the German advance had been stemmed appears on the face of things to have been completely justified and the results which the Allies have obtained up to the present give ground for the belief that in the great trial of strength which is now toward they will be able to give an excellent account of themselves. On balance the Allies have every reason to be satisfied with the events of last week.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.