Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-11
MUST SPEED Up
To Meet German War
Preparations
Baker Declares Kaiser Has Masseo
Greatest Army Of War on Western
Front-U. S. War Report Speaks OF
Bravery Of American Engineers

+ WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-Germany mas
massed on the western front her great
est army of the war, Secretary Baker
declares in his weekly war review
made public today. To meet this men
ace. the United States must speed up
its military preparations. the secretary
adds, with a warning that the enemy
is preparing to put into execution III
France plans he has been maturing
since the defeat of the Russian armies
at Tannenberg early in the war. Inc
peace negotiations with Russia have
permitted the massing of men on the
western front for that purpose The
review asserts the German counter-of-
fensive on the Cambria front has been
successful in winning back less than
one third of the territory captured by
General Byng. The statement also
notes that American engineer troops
exchanging shovels for rifles, fought
off the enemy side by side with the
British
This German parrying thrust the
most powerful and successful blow
aimed at the British during the past
two and one half years, coming as it
tory in the same area, serves to EN-
phasize the reviving strength of the
Germans in the west
Germany by leaving only skeleton
divisions in the Russian area and by
concentrating all available guns. anu
nitions and men in the theatre of op-
eratiCns in the west. has been able
to mass a relatively greater force than
she has ever been able to mobilize in
France in the past
This explains the Success which
the enemy was able to achieve in driv-
ing the British back from Cambria.
1t would not do for us to minimize its
Importance.
For a long time past the enemy
has been preparing his plans for just
such an eventualiry as should arise
when Russia should enter upon nego-
tiations for a separate peace. which
has been a principal German objec-
tive ever since the battle Of Tanner
berg, We must expect that he should
carry these plans into execution. Thus
he may have at his disposal for time
a preponderant numerical superiority
in the west; he may even be able to
dCHltNS SOHle IeidlNe advantages III
, the field such as those recorded dur
ing the past week.
The magnitude of the task before us
can be more fully realized when mea>-
ured by the success which the enemy
is still able to gain.
1T. means that we must speed up
our military efforts. The united ma
ton must stand squarely behind our
soldiers. 1t is not sufficient to pre-
pare to fight: we must prepare to win
The review also hints at an expected
German thrust against the French
front and says that the enemy is feel /
ing out the French front with a view
of identifying the strength of the units ,
opposing him.
AS to the Italian front the state +.
ment says
Our declaration of war against Aus
tria now associates us Immediately
with the struggle now going on in
Italy
The secretary makes this comment
on Palestine. /
THE succe. !; of British opera tons
in Palestine has had very decided
military effect throughout the Otto
man empire and much of the pressure
which the German higher command
had hoped to bring to bear in Mesopo-
tamia with The view to recapturing
Bagdad has been relieved