The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-10-11
WEEKLY REVIEW
OF THE WAR
baker Claims Decisive Ascesa dan
oy foir Aliiss--Allisd Drive at
Heart OF German Line is Sweep
Ing cnwaTd-ss Supreme Test is
Taking Place.

Taking Place.
Decisive cscordancy for the Allies
IN the supreme test of battle fronts
now taking place on the bloody fields
OF Flanders is claimed by Secretary
Baker In the weekly review of war
operations issued Sunday night BY the
War Department.
Whlle 1t may DE premature t. as
sert that the British war machine has
forced a decision over the Germans,
Mr.. Baker says, the victories Of the
past fortnight, threatening the sub
marine bases or the Belgian cast.
are conclusive indications of Allied
With favorable weather.
he thinks, these victories will be re-
peated and extended.
The review, which is for the week
ended last night, makes no reference
tothe American forces in France or
to the great preparations for war go
ing forward at home.
THE attention Of the world" it
says, rs focused on the titanic strug-
gle now going Oh in Flanders. The
battle raging. there is proving al en-
gagement Of wholly unprecedented
scope and potentialities.
The German Effort T.lti!e.
cat the beginning of the week, ow-
able to launch counter-attaks on the
position recently gained by the Brit.
ish. Notwithstanding the fact that
! the Germans made use of smoke
screens, liquid fire and brought into
action an imposing array of artillery
in their attack against the advanced
British lines between the Tower Ham
lets and Polygon wood, as well a:
along the Menin road, their efforts
proved futile.
ct is significant, on the othe1
hand, that while the British were sus
tanning the shock of German assault.
successfully, they were able to bring
up sufficient fresh troops in orde
to launch another offensive on an ev
en- larger scale than the preceding
one IL the fact of the enenny's on
slaught.
. Slow But Sure.
"Slowly, but therefore the more il
resistible, the Allied drive at tn
heart Of the German line in the ives
is sweeping onward.
"The wisdom of the British i
maintaining great density Of iron
would appear justified by the result
justified by the results achieved dul
ing the past week. 1t must be born
of the British line as much as an
other one factor, that while the e1
envy is still reeling under one bio
the Allies are ready to deliver ar
other and still a third.
cit has been characteristic of tt
campaign in Flanders hitherto thu
neither belligerent has attained whs
we may call decisive success.
Sound Strategical Move.
"The Germans have massed the
greatest war strength along tn
battle front To attack them at the
strongest point Of resistance is sour
strategy.
"The defeats inflicted upon the
y during the past fortnight are concl
sive indications of Allied superiori
. In the light Of past experience it m;
= be premature to assert that the Br
- ish have succeeded in forcing a d
Il cision, but it may be stated with Ell
phasis that in no engagement hit
erto has such vigor, enegy and CO
certed speed of action been displaye
"The full success Of these ope1
tons means that the Belgian Goa
with it's numerous submarine bas
will become untenable to the enen
| Zeebrugge, Ostend and the system
canals leading out Of Bruges a
threatened.
Supreme Test Taking Place:
"The supreme test of the bat
strength of the contending belligt
ents is taking place. Allied ascer
ancy will appear decisive.
"The two immediate contribute
factors of this success are: Air cont
and shell supply.
"The former made it possible for
Allies to locate enemy concentrate
the latter to break them up bef'
they could develop into serious
fensive actions, at the same time p
hitting their own concentration
men and guns to be carried out W
clock-work regularity, unhampered
enemy interference.
"The British are thus able to rep
that since July 31st, last, they h;
not lost single gun while they h;
captured 1872 field and heavy g
and taken 81 ,435 prisoners. Dur
the fighting of the past two d.
they have added 4,446 prisoners,
GLIDING ia officers, to this impos
= total.
Enemy Realizes Danger.
- The enemy realizes the danger
eve may expect him to counter