Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-30
ALLIES ARE SAPP|NG
GERMAN MAN-POWER
IN WESTERN DRIVES
Secretary of War Baker Gives
Out Optimistic Review of
Past Weeks Operations on
All Battle Fronts

All Battle Fronts
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-"The week
just closed has been one very favor
able to the allied arms" says the war
departments official commumque issued
| today.
THE success of the British offensive
| in the region of Cambria and the steady
resistance of the Italians in the face
of the repeated attacks of the Austro-
German forces are two factors which
may be considered as correlative ele-
mentS of one and the same movement.
1T is evident that the enemy took
the offensive in Italy hoping thereby
to extricate himself from the increas-
| ingly difficult position in which his
forces find themselves in the west.
Though the French and British have
both dispatched large contdngents to
Italy, this has in no way hampered the
continuance of their offensive opera
| tions.
ut is the wastage or the enemy
| forces, the slow, yet relentless sapping
of his manpower by continued and sud
den offensive thrusts, which must even
tually result in the Softening of his
line in the west.
1.-The military situation is dominated
by the spectacular success gained by
wards Cambria. BY adopting new tao
| tical methods, by evolving a strategy
daringly conceived and brilliantly exc
cuted, the British forces have been
| able to record a greater success, when
measured by captured terrain, than any
hitherto achieved by either belligerent
in the same space of time along the
western front. While seemingly con-
| tinuiug his offensive engagements in
Flanders by an intense artillery bonn
bardment in the sector stretching from
Ypres to the North sea, Field Marshal
| Haig was able to mask successfully
his plans for an offensive thrust be-
| tween the Scarpe river and st. Quen-
| tin.
NO Artillery Preparation.
1.-THE usual preliminary artillery
preparation was dispensed with. The
elements of surprise so essential to vic
tory played a large part in the sue
| cesses gained. The British by ore
ponderant numerical superiority in men
and mobile material, by improvising the
skilful tactical maneuvering of an I'M
usual number of tanks, and by co-ordi-
mating with precision the deployment
of cavalry, made use of these two arms
to bear the brunt of the encounter In
! fantry then was called upon to hold
and consolidate the terrain gained. Thus
|
cided success with very great economy
of munitions, and slight casualties
Three successive German lines of de-
Tense on frontage of six miles astridc
the Cam brai-Bapaume road were cap
tured and the Scheldt canal in front of
Cambria was crossed. The British
forces, while still pressing forward
are meeting with increased resistance
Cambria, the center of very impor-
tant railroad and canal lines of COM
munfcation, now comes under the i'm
mediate fire Of British field guns, while
the large calibre high velocity and
naval guns can readily search out the
countryside for miles in the rear har-
assing hostile territory and rendering
the continued tenure OF the city by
the enemy difficult. The number Of
prisoners enumerated hitherto is over
10000 which exceeds the total British
casualties.
"While the battle for Cambria has re-
suited in so rapid and sweeping an ad-
vantage for the British forces, appar-
emily without extensive preliminary
preparation, it must not be forgotten
that it was only made possible by the
continued pounding of the German lines
in FLANDERS. In the meantime the Brit
ish have not ceased to keep the enemy
| busy in the Ypres salient and gains of
terrain are noted to the southeast
along the front held by the French
| forces the latter have achieved a sue
cessful coup de main south of Juvin-
court, in Champagne, resulting in the
| capture of some elements of enemy
| trenches and the taking of numerous
! "In the sector where our troops are
training increased artillery activity is
noted. Small attachments, while on
patrol duty, have gained some useful
! experience.
| Italians Reorganized
1.-THE Italian armies. now completing
their reorganization, have been able to
withstand the assaults of the numeri-
| cally superior forces of the Austro-
German divisions engaged against
| them. They have hitherto prevented
any further invasion of the Italian
plain The enemy is continuing his eff
forts to break through. The line of the
| Piave has held firm. Along the lower
Piave, where hostile forces gained
temporary foothold on the right bank
Of the river, they were driven or with
great loss, thus rendering the italian
positions more secure.
along the plateau Of the Settle Com
MUM heavy fighting is going on. The
enemy has been successfully detained
| In the mountain regions between the
headwaters Of the Brenta and the Piave
| defensive operations have been we'll
conducted and the enemy has been I'M
able to make any further progress.
Strategic reserves, strengthened by al
lied contingents, have constituted The
morale of the Italian forces is improv-
ing daily, and while the situation Is
not wholly free from critical aspects,
the defensive measures appear adequate
to meet the situation.
"In Palestine the British forces under
General Allenby are advancing rapidly
on Jerusalem. They have now reached
a point on the Ramalen road approx
mately seven miles west of the city,
while another force is bearing down