The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-11-23
GERMAN SMASH
POLITICAL MOVE
SECRETARY BAKER SAYS ITAL.
IAN DRIVE AsTUTE STRATEGY
OF GERMAN POLITICIANS.
Situation in West Satisfactory, but
Fear Expressed That Civil War in
Russia Will Allow Teutons to
Send Men to Western Army.

Washington.-The effect of Ger
many's political offensive" against
Russia and Italy upon the task ahead
of the allies is recognized in Secretary
Bakers weekly review of military OPP
erations, issued by the war depart
ment
"The close INTERPRETATION of events on
all fronts cannot too frequently be
emphasized" says the review.
"The political situation in Russia
made it possible for the enemy to de.
tach important contingents in the east
which We're speedily transported to the
italian front.
1T is not unlikely that before mi.
tiating their powerful drive against
the Italian forces, the enemy made
painstal1ing and systematic attempts
| to undermine the morale of the Ital
| ian troops, with view to breaking
down their resisting power.
This carefully planned political of
| fensive conducted preparatory to their
military offensive reveals clearly the
| present methods of the Germans.
Surveying the broader aspects of
the European situation today, we find
that the enemy in the east is confin.
ing his efforts to political propaganda.
Along the italian sector he has recent,
ly made desperate attempts to secure
a decision by means of a pOlitico-mili.
tary drive. In the west, while at
tempting to sap the fighting strength
Of the belligerent peoples, the enemy
has now been compelled to act on the
defensive and is being slowly but
surely driven back.
TT should be borne in mind, how.
ever, that the further disintegration
of the Russian forces will mean that
the Germans will be able to thin out
, their line along this front, which viii
thus automatically contribute to the
! stiffening of their resistance in tht
/ west, as well as render available adde'
: contingents to take part in the en-
e gagements now proceeding in Italy.
q During the week just closed, bot
IL the British and French were able
rs record significant tactical gains, tt
er elimination or long series of poS
erfuny driven offensives.
at with Passchendaele securely
a British hands, the first stage of
he operations begun during the last we
ing of September have been brought t.
en- successful conclusion.
son 1.-THE French counterpart Of
led British success took place north
the Aisne. Here the retreat of
on enemy anticipated last week was c
en- ried out. The pressure of the Fren
le offensive. which has grown slowly a
,pv | u1etbadieaIIy I'm voIiIrua and INTENSE
t. reached a climax when by the rece
ry French advance in this sector tn
III were enabled to enfilade the Germs
&c lines along the crest of the Chemi
IS des-Dames.
10 "For the past three years the pre-
Is ence of the enemy on this ridge ha
been a source of anxiety to the F'rencl
k To dislodge them was a principal oil
y jective of the repeated offensIves d.
% veloped by General Petain since las
a April. The sudden forced evacuatio
Is of some forty square miles of the mos
s important terrain in this sector of tn
P western front has been the tangibl
'e result achieved.
n 'aThe Importance of this successful
r French advance must not be over
e. looked. 1t means more than a mer
Y gain of so many square miles of tel
q ritory; it means the penetration o
= the powerfully fortified Siegfrfed line
70 hitherto considered by the enemy in
~ pregnable, and pushes back his mai
y defensive positions to within five mile
: Of the fortress of Laon and major OF
iectives.