Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-10-30
British Offensive and Sud den French Thrusts Two
 Outstanding Features.
ITALIAN CRISIS
 CONSIDERED GRAVE
Recalls the Austrian Drive of 1916 Which Met With Defeat When it
 Reached Italian Plains
 Enemy Losses Grow.

Secretary Baker has issue his re- view of the various fronts ul to date. He is optimistic, exen as regards the Italian front, calling attention to the fact that in the drive of 1916 the Aus trians were stopped at the Italian plains and driven back. With regards to the the other fronts the secretary is plainly of the opinion that the al lies nave all the best of the fighting.
 The secretary's review follows
 There is renewed activity on all fronts.
 Important developments would ap- pear to be impending.
 Along the western. eastern and Italian fronts, in Macyuonia, Ruman- ia and Mesopotamia and even in East Africa, significant operations are in progress.
 "The two outstanding features of the situation of the week are the re lentless British offensive in the Ypres salient, resulting in substantial gains of terrain of important strategic value, and the sudden well-aimed and sustained thrust of the Frellcn north of the Aisne.
 "It is evident that the allied drives along the western flont are broad ening in scope and intensity. The whole front from the Houtholst wood through the Passcnendaele ridge southward to Lens and on the Aisne is becoming the scene of increasingly heavy allied artillery pressure, which the enemy is withstancing with difn- culty
 "Siie by side the French and Brit ish are pushing on through the Frem- ish lowlands towards Roulers.
 "The enemy, believing te might find rift in the otherwise impreg- nable allied line at the point of juno tion between the Franco-British forces, directed repeated heavy coun- ter attacks in this segment These were repulsed.
 "While the British attacks during the past week have been carried out with imposing effectiYes, it is appar- ent that the British command is maneuvering in order to gain import ant tactical advantages at a minimum cost.
 Enemy Casualties Rising.
 The casualties to the enemy are rising steadily.
 Slowly the allies are enlarging their gains in Flanders, driving into the heart of German resistance in the west.
 'The German armies fight on stub bOrnly If any further evidence of allied superiority be needed. it seems to be supplied by the decisive suc- d,,r ri, week.
 "This offensive YVES launched on a six-mile front near the west end Of the Chemin des Danes at dawn on October 23.
 General Petain so well masked his preparations that the enemy was talk en by surprise as to the exact ter rain chosen for the attack and was overwhelmed before being able to organize concentrated resistance.
 '"Thc German lines were penetrat- ed to depth of well over two miles at one point.
 This first attacks was immediately followed by second assault in this same sector, crowned with full sue cess.
 'In three days fighting the French have taken 1900 prisoners, 120 guns of large caliber and great quantity of booty not yet enumerated.
 "The possession of the captured fort on Malmaison, the key to the en- tire ridge and the villages beyond, TOW makes it possible for the French to enfilade the German positions along the Chemin des Danes as well as to fire directly through the valley towards the fortress of Loan,
 General Petain's Strategy.
 General Petains showed himself a postmaster of strategy in being able to attain decisive victory in so brief ia period,
 "The time has apparently come for another, strategic retreat of the en- emy. It means tha. the Germans must again retire to a new entrench- ed and carefully prepared line if they intend to resist further in the west.
 "It must be admitted tha. the Ger man retreat executed as result of the battles of the Sonme last year was carried through with cOnsummate skill. The enemy retired, destroying all cover and taking up positions of marked tactical and strategic strength. "But the the battle of the Somme has but one wedge. Today we Nave l the wedge of Flanders and that of the FAisne being outlined. s'The bad weather continues to be -- ,- s.T ' m n 'sr IN