Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-13

u
OF Germany's political 0ffensives'
against Russia and Italy upon the
task ahead of the allies is ree0g-
nized in Secretary Bakers week
Iy review of military operations is
sued today by the war department.
1.-THE close INTERPRETATIONS Of events
on all fronts cannot be too frequently
emphasized says the review.
1.-The political situation in Russia
made it possible for the enemy to de-
tach important contingents in the east
which were speedily transported 10
the Italian front.
at is not unlikely that before initi-
ating their powerful drive against the
Italian forces, the enemy made pains
taking and systematic attempts to I'M
dermine the morale of the Italian
troops, with a view to breaking down
their resisting power.
This carefully planned political Of
fensiye conducted preparatory to their
military offensive reveals clearly the
present methods Of the Germans.
Survey Broader Aspects.
Surveying the broader aspects of
the European situation today, we find
that the enemy in the east is confining
his efforts to political propaganda.
Along the Italian sector he has recent
ly made desperate attempts to secure
a decision by means Of politico-mili-
tary drive. In the west, while attempt
ing to sap the fighting strength OF the
belligerent peoples. the enemy has
now been compelled to act on the de
fensiye and is being slowly but surely
driven back.
at should be borne in mind how
ever. that the further disintegration of
the Russian forces will mean that the
Germans will be able to thin out their
line along this front. which viii thus
automatically contribute to the stihen-
ing of their resistance in the west, as
well as to render available added con-
/ tingents to take part in the engage
ments now proceeding in Italy.
| During the week Just closed, both
/ the British and French were able to
record significant tactical gains. the
elimination of long series of pow
erfully driven offensives.
with Passchendaele securely in
British hands, the first stage Of the op-
erations begun during the last week
of September have been brought to a
I successful conclusion.
The French counterpart OF the
British success took place north of
the Aisne Here the retreat Of the en-
envy anticipated last week was car
ried out. The pressure of the French
| offensive, which has grown slowly and
methodically in volume and intensity
reached a climax when by the recent
French advance in this section they
were enabled to enfilade the German
lines along the crest Of the Chemin-
Des-Dames.
For the past three years the pres
ence of the enemy on this ridge has
/ been a source of anxiety to the French
To dislodge them was principal oh
iective of the repeated offensives de-
yeloped by General Petain since last
April The sudden forced evacuation
of some forty square miles Of the mos
important terrain in this sector of the
western front has been the tangible re-
suit reached,
Importance OF Advance.
"The importance of this successful
French advance must not be over
} looked 1t means the penetration O
the powerfully fortified Siegfried line
+, hitherto considered by the enemy i'm
pregnable and pushes back his mar
: defensive positions to within five mile
of the fortress Of Laon, the major oh
. iective.
in the sector where small detaeh
ment of our troops had taken up tlei
places in the trenches as a part 0
their training. the enemy las is Gus
tomary in trench warfare when fresl
! troops are believed to have takel
places in front line trenehes) TO
reconnaissance purposes, executed
well-planned raid and succeeded il
temporarily penetrating the short seq
ment of the line held by our forces. in
hicting few casualties and takinl
prisoners.
"A unit OF our artillery also In III
course of its training, came in con
tact with the enemy and acquitted it
self very creditabIy In their first en-
, counter
!, in Italy the situation is developin
as normally as can be expected unde
| the circumstances
For the time 1t would be of littI
: avail to endearor to seek for the con
I tributing causes of the successe
gained by the Austro-German force
which have resulted in their incursio
: into Italy
= 'The Italian retreat. somewhat con
: fused. in its earlier stages. has now be
: come more orderly and the retiremen
Continued On Page Four.)