Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-23
DO NOT EXPECT WINTER
TO HALT ALLIED DRIVE
Military Experts in Washington Be-
lievc Entente Commanders Will
Continue Operations.
ALL ODDS IN THEIR FAVOR
War Department Gives Out Weekly
review OF Developments and for
First Time Touches on American
Expcditionary Forces.
tBy Associated Press.l

TBy Associated Press.l
WASHINGTON, October 22.-Military
experts here do not expect winter to
halt the great allied drive against
the Germans in Flanders. Secretary
Bakers weekly review OF war opera
lions issued tonight discloses the be-
itef of the War Department that no
tency OF material and men will enable
tho British and French commanders 10
triumph over natural obstacles and
continue forcing the enemy backward
without waiting for spring.
The review touches for the first time
upon the American expeditionary forces
in France. declaring the men. after
three months intensive training, are
in efficient fighting trim and splendid
physical condition.
In dwelling upon the Importance OF
the battle of Flanders and ITS effect
upon the morale of the Germans, the
War Secretary declares 1t apparent that
the German high command planned the
recent expedition against the Russians
in the Riga sector. norder to bolster
UP morale and meet impending internal
difficulties. BY extending her lines in
the east he adds. Germany has merely
added to the length OF her line Of COM
munications and increased confidence in
the final allied victory.
The review. covering the week end-
ing October 20. follows:
Our men in France. after three
months intensive training. are In
splendid physical condition and efficient
fighting trim. They have readily be-
come acclimatized. and now feel at
home in the war zone.
warm hearted and enthusiastic recep
tion on the part Of the armies and peo-
pie Of France.
The health OF men overseas
is reported excellent.
The week just closed has been one
OF relative quiet on all fronts.
BAD WEATHER PREVAILS
ALONG WESTERN FRONT
bad weather already prevails along
the western front, wintry conditions
will soon set in. and the terrain will
become increasingly difficult for attack
ing troops Nevertheless. the potency
OF allied material and men. the accumu-
latlon of the technical means of COM
bat. and the preparations which have
been going on for many months will
make It possible for the British and
French commanders to triumph over
natural obstacles. and with few short
intervals we may expect the offensive
to press forward.
"It is not anticipated that the allies
Will go into winter quarters this year.
The full Importance OF the battle In
Flanders is beginning to be revealed.
In order to appreciate the real sg-
nificance of this engagement and the
effect II has had the morale Of the
German -.:my and the German people,
we must consider briefly. the German
attacks In the Riga sector. including
the capture OF Oesel. Dago and other
minor island OF the Finnish Gulf.
while no attempt should be made
to belittle the Importance OF tho posi-
lions gained by the enemy, we cannot
fail to record that 1t is apparent that
the Germans undertook this expedition
with a view to bolstering up the morale
OF the country. more particularly in
order to be able to meet the impending
internal difficulties which threaten to
eliminate In a renewed Cabinet crisis
in the near future.
The German higher command has
invariably picked out a weakened OBJ
jcctive. in order to be able to record
success. which should be Of political
rather than military value. The islands
OF the Finnish coast m the hands OF tho
enemy in no way offset the recent al
lied victories in Flanders. Sound
strategy demands that no such diver
sion OF forces be undertaken at so
crucial moment.
ENEMY APPARENTLY DEsPAIRs
STEMMING ALLIED DRIVE
IF the enemy had any confidence in
being able to stem successfully the 'e
OF the allied advance in the west, ne
would throw every ounce OF his
strength into the balance in Flanders,
and. IL possible, by crushing the allied
armies, bring about peace with VIC
tory which the German has often
stated as his objective.
Germany. by extending her lines in
the east. has merely added to the
length of her line OF communications.
Thus, the events in Russia to-day
should cause US to have increasing con-
fdence in final allied victory.
Along the western front. trench
raids, as we'll as the usual artillery
duels are reported. Isolated counter
attacks were conducted by the enemy.
in such a manner as to indicate that no
real success was expected. but merely
serve to keep up the aggressive spirit
of the troops.
'It is evident that the terrible pun
ishment by allied artillery fire Is be-
ginning to have a very decided effect
along the western front. Never be-
fore in any series Of engagements have
80 many German divisions. after brief
encounters. been Withdrawn and re-
placed by fresh troops. Deserters from
German ranks taken into the allied lines
have become increasingly numerous
"Rumors of an impending Austrian
off, dtrecfeA inc Tf,I,
been current during the past week. Re-
ports Of concentrations Of Austrian and
German divisions to take part in the
attack are noted. Any one familiar
with the situation can at once deter
mine that these rumors are exagger-
ated. Even should the season permit,
the concentration Of the number of
fresh enemy divisions, estimated as
high as forty, could not as a physical