The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-09-23
Asserts Germans = .
Have Almost Shot
Their Last Bolt
War Situation Reviewed Hopefully In
a Speech Before House Of Lords
by Earl Kitchener

bolt" said Earl Kitchener, secretary
for war, today. Their advance In
Russia, which at one time averaged
five miles day, now has diminished
to less than one mile day"
Earl Kitchener's statement was
made in a review Of the war in the
house of lords.
"The response of the country's
calls for recruits has been little short
of marvellous" he said, but the
problem how to insure the field force
being kept at full strength is engag-
ing our close attention and will. |
hope, soon receive a practical solu-
ton. | do not for one instant doubt
that whatever sacrifice may prove
necessary will be undertaken cheer
fully by our people.
This was the only portion of Earl
Kitchener's speech which might be
regarded as reference to the posi-
bility Of conscription.
Western Front Unchanged
Regarding military operations, the
war secretary said:
For the last few months the front
held by the allies in the west has
been practically unchanged. This
does not mean that there has been
relaxation of active work on the
part of the forces in the field, for
the continuous local fighting which
has taken place all along the line has
called for the display of incessant
vigilance.
Meanwhile our positions have been
much strengthened, not only by care
full elaboration of the system of the
trench Notifications that already ex-
listed, but also by large increase in
the number of heavy guns which haye
been placed along the lines.
"The Germans recently on several
occasions used gas and liquid fire
and have bombarded our lines with
asphyxiating shells, but these forms
of attack, lacking as they now do the
element of surprise, have failed in
their object and lost much of their
offensive value, owing to the steps
taken by us to counterfeit the effect
OF these pernicious methods.
Recruits Found Satisfactory
AS new armies have become train
ed and ready to take the field, con-
siderable reinforcements have been
sent out to Join Field Marshal French
command. You will be glad to hear
his opinion of these troops, communi-
Gated to me. He writes: The units
appear to be thoroughly well officer
ed and commanded. The equipment
is In good order and efficient. Several
units of artillery have been tested be-
hind the firing line in the trenches,
and hear very good reports of them.
Their shooting has been extremely
good and they are quite fit to take
their place in the line.
These new divisions now have had
the opportunity of acquiring by en-
perience in actual warfare that por-
tion Of the necessary training of SOL
diers which it was impossible to give
them In this country, and which,
once acquired, will enable them eff
fectively to take their place in line
with the rest of the British army.
With these additional reinforce
ments, amounting to eleven divisions
(about $1,000 men, Sir John French
has been able to extend his lines and
take over from the French approxim-
ately seventeen miles of additional
front.
Ground Gained by French
Throughout the summer months
the French have held their own along
their extended line OF the front and
In some places, notably near Arras
and in Alsace, have made substantial
progress. In the struggles around
Arras early in June they captured
whole heights at Notre Dame de Lo-
rette, as well as a number OF strong
" fortified villages around this high
ground, thereby securing an area oil
Great tactical importance, in view oil
future operations. In Alsace a mum
Der OF dominating eminences have
been wrested from the enemy and
have been subsequently hid in the
face OF formidable counter attacks
One particularly commanding sum
NIT which overlooks the left banS
Of the Rhine in this quarter anc
IL, which had been the scene of continu
GUS encounters for many months, al
te, changing hands many times, rest
ed finally in possession Of our allies
B French trenches along the entr'
front nave been developed ant
strengthened and now everywher