The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-19
ALLIES STILL ATTACKING.
SECRETARY OF WAR BAKER DIS.
COUNTS GERMAN CLAIMS.
Aii'es are Masters OF situation I'm The
West and Germans are on Defcn-
sive ~ They Have Been for Two
Years.


Washington, Dec. 16.-"No element
in the military situation should lead
tis TO conclude that the initiative i'm
the West has passed from the allies
90 the enemy" says Secretary Baker
IN his weekly review of the military
operations. made public tonight. and
dsvoted largely to the German adver-
>tsing OF an impending great ofren-
t,ve.
During the period of the review
the general military situation in the
West has remained unchanged" con-
tinues the statement which deals with
ths week ending yesterday "Rumors
Of Ereat preparations on the part of
the Germans with q view to achiev-
ing some major strategic success in
the West continue to reach us
Reports or massed hostile concen-
frations I'm those sectors where the
onemy proposes to break through the
Frenoh front and roll back the allied
line on a broad scale are numerous.
The German higher command
seeks peace through victory.S The
enemy il apparently very eager to
have IN believe that he Is about TO
win sich a victory.
For the pest two years the Ger
mans have been on the defensive In
the West. The bold advancing or an
Imposing offensive on the part OF the
enemy. which, while In the realm OF
possibility. and therefore should not
DC neglected or overlooked. must in
rowise be interpreted to mean that
the increased strength OF the hostile
forces will result in any permanent
strategic advantage to the Germans.
Surveying the outlines of the gen.
cfal war strategy on all fronts. we
nnd that both belligerents have been
on the offensive during the past six
months. 49,
The central powers have taken the
Palliative in the Eastern and Italian
theaters; the allies along the major
font In the West. I'm Palestine. Meso-
rotamIa and East Africa.
Tho enemy has confined his efforts
-to advancing his lines along the Rus
sion front. resulting In the capture Of
Eiga. and then by we'll conducted
offensive In Italy with the assistance
Of an intensive political drive gained
a marked strategic succesy in this
ssction.
Tho allies. in tho principal theoter
OF operations. tho West have been
able to record an almost interrupted
series OF tactical advantages.
Though the capture OF the Holy
City can not be held principal mill
tsry objective OF the campaign 50
vigorously pursued by General Allen
by In this theater. the conquest of
Jerusalem will have n wide influence
throughout tho Turkish empire .
and will 40 far toward reahirming
the prestige OF the allied powers
throughout the Orient.
Germany realizes the danger attend
ant upon the waning OF her influence
ir the East and will therefore be more
anxious than ever TO conclude a speedy
peace before the war map becomes
less favorable.
Reports OF observers recently out
of Germany. who were present during
previous air raids In Germany by the
allies. state that these raids have
had a very depressing effect on the
civilian population and have heighten-
GO the growing discomfort among the
German people who now for the first
time are being brought face to face
with real war conditions
The armistice concluded by the
Russians with the enemy now in
cludes the entire Eastern front from
the Btltic To the Black Sea. Ncgo-
ttations are not proceeding smoothly.
The German demands as reported TO
us specify, among other points. the
Immediate opening up OF channels OF
commercial intercourse between Rus
sits and Germany"