The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-19

forts to cross the Piave. while
simultaneously their Trentino
army Is striking blew after blow
Mt the Italian array separating
them from the Venetian plain.
The feeling In Rome Is one of
calm confidence, the dispatch
says.
Washin gton. Nov. ls.-rtaly has
not yet felt the fun power OF the
Austro-German blow. but is holding
hrmly and the situation should be-
egarded with confidence.
The disturbed conditions in Russia
and the imposing Teutonic campaign
against Italy are distract!ng public at
fentfon from the vital theater OF war
the west where the allies are win
1ing an uninterrupted series of sue
cesses. and from the series OF defeats
which had been inflicted by the Brit
'sh on the Turkish armies lin Palea-
tine.
This distraction is one of the main
purposes OF the German campaIxn---
TO distract the attention OF its own
people, OF neutraIs and of even Amer
ca and the allies from German de-
fests In the west
These are the conclusions reached
IN an official review Of the war In all
theaters for the week ending Novem-
Der II. given out by Secretary of war
Baker today,
In his statement Mr.. Baker dweiis
Tor the first time on the rapid prepa-
ration of the American forces. espe-
cially the national army. for service at
the front. The United States troops
who already have gone into the
trenches as part OF their training,
have shown themselves worthy OF the
best traditions of our armies"
Mr.. Bakers review follows:
Tho training of our national army
| Is now progressing rapidly.
AT all the camps the morale Of
our new citizen soldiers is reported as
excellent.
National Army Work sug Hard. -
''The men who have been called
upon to defend our country in the
| present emergency are taking hold of
the work in q serious. high minded
spirit, which will produce the best
results.
The British and French officers
who are to assist in instructIng our
| new armies are arriving. They come
| for the purpose of initiating our men
irto the latest developments of mod
/ srn warfare. that from the very
| outset our forces may he trained ac-
cording to the most efficient time and
| iife-saying methods
In France the training of our
j troops is likewise being carefully con-
tinued. In the sector where our
forces are In the trenches. they have
| shown themselves worthy Of the best
| traditions of our armies.
| after the successes gained by the
allies in the west during the proceed
| ing week the relative calm Of the
Z LEG A., a . tat
I pated.
! ut is significant. however. that the
I reaction of the enemy has been rel
ativeiy slight both in the region north
! of the Aisne and in Flanders.
Teuton Reaction Is Slow.
Five days elapsed before any hos
| tile attempts were made TO regain the
ground recently won by the Canadians
| beyond Paschendaele and this effort
was repulsed without difficulty.
AT this season of the year. the
sodden. fogbound fields of Flanders
and the bad weather which prevails
along the entire western front makes
1t difficult to coordinate major OPP
| eratfons with precision. Nevertheless.
artillery preparation has continued in
1.-THE two chief theaters OF activity In
the west, presaging further offensive
enga gefhents.
"Foulers. the ultimate objective, IL
now less than five miles distant and
from their positions on the heights OF
! Paschendaele allied artillery fully
commands the approaches to this
pivotal position.
Along other sectors OF the front
| held by the British no engagements
of Importance are reported.
Huns Show Nervousness.
! obstructive hostile artillery Are Is
noted in the area along the User. Gen.
tering around Dixmude. and the shell
! ling by the enemy increased during
! the latter part of the week, betray-
ing a decided nervousness on the part
of the Germans lest any unexpected
offensive action develop.
along the French front no en-
ragements Of importance are re-
| corded.
I'm Champagne and Argonne. artil-
Ilery duels OF especial intensity took
place.
.In the Vosges the enemy launched
an assault in the vicinity of the
Hartmansweiler- Kopf and temporarily
gained a footing in the advanced
French trenches, only to be driven
out by strong counter-attack.
1.-THE news from Italy is more en-
lcouraging Operations involving the
lskilIful handling of large masses OF
troops and the reorga nization OF de-
fensive positions, entaihng superhu-
man efforts ON the part OF officers and
| men alike, have been carried out by
the italian armies with energy and
courage. SIX
Hard Fighting In italy.
'All sectors Of the Italian theatsg =