The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-05
PREDICTS BIG
GERMAN RETREAT
Baker Expects Readjustment
Of 25-Mil3 Front.
TO DECIDE ISSUE IN WEST
Secretary of War in Weekly Review
Says italian Few rises Will not De-
ternnine Wars Outcome


, tern1ine Wars Outcome
Washington, Nov "a readjust-
msnt of the German lines from Laon
as far north as st. Quentin (ab0ut
twenty-five miles, is for cast by See
rotary of War Baker in his weekly re-
view of military operations up to No
vember 8.
Secretary Baker states that while
attention has been centered on the
Austro-German drive in Italy the out
come of the struggle rests not on the
Italian or Russian front, but in France
, and Belgium. Here the overwhe,m-
ing bulk of enemy strength Is concen-
trated," he declares. Here our fore
, es are fighting"
The French success north of Ypres,
Secretary Baker states, mean a fur
ther sharpening of the blade Of the
wedge in Flanders and he adds that
the allied attacks north OF the AiSne.
which were successful despite stTcn@
counter attacks. forced the retiring
movement Of the Germans, the full ex
tent of which has not yet been reveal
ed
Secretary Baker refers to the con-
tinued successes of the British forces
in Palestine, saying that they ara with
in forty miles of Jerusalem and are
pushing northward to the Holy City.
His statement follows:
Our attention during the last week
! has been centered on the gigantic
struggle now going OF in the Friulian
plain. The Austro-German forces,
breaking through the Italian defen:es
along the upper reaches of the Ison-
20, have erupted into the lowlards
are carried forward a series of rapidly
c0-ordinated operations which have
resulted in the conquest of much ter
ritory. Trench warfare has, for the
time being, been abandoned. Great
, troop masses are maneuvering in the
open country.
Under the direction of General Ca
. dorna the Italian army has retired to
the west bank of the Tagliamento
: river France and Great Britain have
~lready despatched large reinforce
ments to the threatened battle area.
] The western front stretches from the
| North Sea to the Adriatic.
1.-The momentous events in Italy
should not lead us to forget that the
principal battlefront of the war re-
mains, as it has been since the begin
ming the important sectors of the
western front, in France and Flanders
Here the overwhelming bulk of enemy
strength is concentrated. Here our
forces are fighting.
steadily the Franco-Bri1sh forces
are pushing forward. In hnders al
lied attacks were particula y success
full. The British have col belled the
Germans to retire north O. Ypres-
Roulers road. They have IIated
within 400 yards of Pass laele,
where the Canadian tron(I distin-
guished themselves by capturing Bel
levue Spur after inf1icting serious
losses on the enemy.
"In the vicinity Of Dixmude the Bel
gians executed several successful
raids, while the French, by a well-di-
rected assault, occupied the eastern
outskirts of the Houthoulst wood and
captured several villages, including
Merken and Kipps, as well as a num-
Der of strongly fortified farmhouses.
! This success is of Importance as mark
ing an extension of the allied lines
north of Ypres, which means further
sharpening of the blade of the wedge
, in FLANDERS.
North of the Aisne the French
have enlarged their success of the
preceding week by taking certain vii
| lagos which they have successfully
held in the face of stronger counter
attacks. Though mentioned only
briefly in dispatches. these operations
are of great tactical importance.
1.-THE Germans, unable to withstand
the intense pressure of the French in
this sector, have made retiring
movement. AS yet no exact indica-
tons have been received as to its ey
! tent, though 1t is anticipated that it
may result in a readjustment of the
enemy line in the region of laon, La
, Fere and even northward to st. Quen-
tin.
! Along the eastern front there has
seen little change in the situation"