The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-10-01

WASHINGTON. oct. l.-Desper.
ate. onsIaughts OF Germany's picked
storm battalions are due 10 her fear
OF the British menace against the
Tcuton line of communications lead.
ing ND 10 The Ostend and Seebruggc
naval bases, Secretary OF War Rak
er's second wee ky war summary
said today Further the Menin road
battle shows that the fghung STAN
ina OF the Germans IN deteriorating.
Baker declared
As ne military situation In this
country. Secretary Baker announces
that national guard mobilization Is
proceeding rapidly and that the as
sambling of the national army has
gone on smoothly and successfully.
His statement says
Tho Yprcs salient continues the On p
ter ~ military interest alonE the
western front Tho battle ot Mfnin
road which promises 10 be one ~ the
great battlcs of the war. Is follow INK
Last week We recorded tho gains
OF tho BRUSH in ihie sector. rms
week we note the desperate attempt
made hv tho Germans to retAkc ihf
geinnlnE iast sunday tho constant
Is increasing violence or the t"uhNeI
attack reached elimination on th'
18th instant when seven powerful on -
sIaughtr by the picked storm Dat
taii0ns ~ tho enemy "ndeaNored vain =
Is 20 regain the lost ohiectiy"s. Inc
village - Xonncheke. ths ,,ntot pl
the conflict. is now nrmiy held by the
M h. evident thnt tho efforts 81 tho
enaruv in this sector are not Hctuated
merely by the desire 80 rgain lost ter
= than tactical HNItIF.
nor must their persistent attack De
considered merely the norman fcar
tion of a modern field engagement IN
which rounter attack Invariably foi-
lows uron attack. bat rather W is 20
bc noted that fhc enemy realizes tulif
the imuitnac strategic importanc" OF
the British thrust along the Menin
road.
This new British advance IN the
Ypres salient now definitely threat
ems the cucmy's line of Coiuinunlta~
tions 10 the Beigian coast Teh Os-
tend-IilIo railway which In large
measure feeds tho German naval
bases at Ostend and Zeobrugge. the
latter the home port OF thr GERMAN
high seas submarine hotillaS. now
comes within the range OF the nre or
aTho superiority Of the British over
their enemies was COnclusiNely proved
during tho engagements OF the past
"The battle of Menin road. further
more. shows that tho nEhting stamina
~ the Germans IL deteriorRting. not
TINT the enemy did not display great
sklus nd dogEed determination In his
rs prated counter attacks
During the recent operations In
this sector the british captured i.SfS
prisoners including i2S officers.
Along the French front. particular
Is in tho Aisne sector % Hraye -Cerny-
Hurtebisc. artillery duels OF Intense
violence are rcportd"
n We compare tho combat front ~
Nerdun In 1915 held by ~ German
divisions with 'he combat front along
the Aiane IN 1917 held by "a divisions.
both 90 practically tho same length.
it is found that during the same
period 90 time from May 10 Septembe r
1915 and 1917 respectively. the enemy
engaged along the Nrdun front %
new divisions last year. along the
Afsnc 81 new divisions this year.
So great has the wastage ~ enemy
forces become. owing 20 the Improved
mechanical means ~ the Allies and
tho perfection of their methods OF
cuinhnt. that the Germans are Obliged
g. maintain ln reserve a. n min imutn
gunrnntse for the safety ~ their bat
tis line IN the west. az least "A IL
visiouH
The mobilization 81 the national
guard ntheir cPmps vs. proceeding
rapidly and the formation ~ reorEan-
ized divisions is taking place. Tbs
REORGANIZATION IL necessttatcd by the
conditions ~ tho present war which
require larger regiments and certain