New Britain herald., 1917-11-27
WEEKLY STATEMENT
 TELLS OF OFFENSIVE
War Department Says British Took 10000 Prisoners
THE MILITARY SITUATION
Ancrcased Artillery Activities Are No- tiCcd in the Sectors Occupied By Our Soldiers, While Our Men On Patrol Duty Secure Experiences.

1'atfOl Duty secure Experiences.
 Washington, Nov. 27.-"The week just closed has been one very favor able to the Allied arms" says the War Deparments official communique is- sued today.
 ''The success of the British offen- sive in the region of Cambrai and steady resistance of Italians in the face of repeated attacks of the Aus troGerman forces are two factors which may be considered as correla- tive elements of one and the same movement.
 "It 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.
 The German higher command were apparently confident that, in order to save Italy from invasion, such inn portant contingents of French and British troops would be detached from the western front as to render any further Allied offensive in this thea ter impossible. Though the French and British have both dispatched large Contingents to Italy, this has in no way
 
 fensive operations.
 "It is the wastage of the enemy forces, the slow. yet relentless sap ping of his man power by continued and sudden offensive thrusts, which must eventually result in the soften ing of his line in the west. This is the ultimate objective of the series of intensive offensives so successfully pursued by the Allies during the past six months, and is even more import ant than the gain of terrain.
 Military Situation.
 The military situation is dominated by the spectacular success gained by the British forces in their thrust to- wards Cambrai. By adopting new l tactical methods, by evolving strat- eRy daringly conceived and brilliantly l executed, the British forces have been 1 able to record greater success when | measured by captured terrain, than any hitherto achieved by either bell1g- erent in the same space of time along the western front. While seemingly continuing his offensive engagements In Flanders by intense artillery poiA- hardment in the sector stretching from Ypres to the North sea, Field Marshal Haig was able to mask suc- cessfully his plans for an offensive thrust between the Scarpe river ana St. Quentin.
 .'The number of prisoners enumer- ated hitherto is over 10000 Whlch e4- reeds the total British casualties.
 Along the front held by the French forces, the latter have achieved a suc- cessful coup de main south of Juvrln- court in Champagne, resulting in the canture of some elements Of enemy trenches and the taking of numerous prisoners.
 "ln the sector where our troops are training increased artillery activity IS noted Small attachments, while on patrol duty, have gained some userul experience.
 ''The Italian armies. now complet- Ing their reorganization. have been able to withstand the assaults of the numerically superior forces of the Austro-German divisions engaged against them. They have hitherto pre- vented auy further invasion or the Italian plain.
 'In Palestine the British forces under Gen. Allenby are adVanclns rapidly on Jerusalem. They have now reached a point on the Ramaleh road approximately seven miles west of the city, while another force IS bearing down from the north.''