The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-23


 Washington. Oct. 23-Secretary of War Baker issued formal statement last night which is interpreted in Washington as meaning that the bulk Of the American expeditionary forces now in France will soon go into ac- tion in the trenches.
 This Is the construction placed up- on significant phrases in his weekly review of the military operations in Europe; guarded in it's utterances and carefully prepared after consulta- ton with General Staff officers, after a review of confidential information from military sources abroad. In his review the Secretary of War emphasized the status of the Pershins expedition by giving it the most prom inent position in his analysis of the military equation. He declared that our men in France after three months of intensive training, are in splendid physical condition and ef- fcient fighting trim" and "now feel at home in the war zone"
 The Secretary had no comment to make on the statement, but the in. depreciation placed upon his words when carefully weighed here last night. Is that they mark the verge of | the actual entrance of the American | troops into the fighting line.
 | What gives further emphasis to this i interpretation is the fact that in his | statement Secretary Baker says ''it is l not anticipated that the Allies will go | into winter quarters this year. and i that the full importance of the bat 1 tie in Flanders is beginning to be re- l vealed."
 l The probabilities are that with the assignment of American soldiers to
 their places in the front an equivalent number of Entente forces will be re- leased to reinforce the men employed in the steady driving home of the en-
 Iarged wedge in Flanders.
 | MT. Bakers statement follows:
 Our men in France. after three months intensive training, are in splendid physical condition and eff1- il cfent fighting trim. They have readily tbecome. acclimated and now feel at home in the war zone. Our troops
 have met with the most warm-heart- ed and enthusiastic reception on the bart of the armies and people of France. The health of our men over seas is reported as excellent.
 The week just closed has been one
 of relative quiet. on all fronts. L.
 the western front. Wintry conditions
 will soon set in, and the terrain will
 become increasingly difficult for at-
 tacking troops Nevertheless, the po-
 tency of allied material and men, the accumulation of the technical means 7 lof combat, and the preparations which
 have been going on for many months will make it possible for the British , and French commanders to triumph { over natural obstacles, and with few
 short intervals we may expect the of
 fensive to press forward.
 Tt is not anticipated that the AL : lies will go into winter quarters this ] year.
 : .-The full importance of the battle 3 in Flanders is beginning to be re-
 vealed. In order Ito appreciate the 8 real significance of this engagement : and the effect it has had on the mor- l ale of the German army and the Ger z man people we must consider briefly 3 the German attacks in the Riga sec . tor, including the capture of Oesel t Dago, and other minor islands of the l | Finnish gulf.
 f While no attempt should be mad.
 to be1ittle the importance, of the posi- : tions gained by the enemy, we canno v fail to record that it is apparent tha
 the Germans undertook this expedi l | ton with a view to bolstering up tht
 morale of the country, more particu v | larly in order to be able to meet tht 8 impending internal difficulties whicf ] threaten to culminate in renewed tt Cabinet crisis in the near future.
 ''The German higher command ha.
 invariably picked out weakened ob ! 1 jective in order to be able to record a success, which should be of po1itica,
 rather than military value. The
 islands of the Finnish coast in the ! hands of the enemy in no way offset 1 the recent allied victories in Elan.
 ders.
 "sound strategy demands that nc such diversion of forces be undertak en at so crucial a moment. 'If the enemy had any confidenc.
 in being able to stem successfully thu
 tide of the allied advance in the wes
 he would throw every ounce of hi st1 ength into the balance in Flanders l and if possible, by crushing the al lied armies bring about peace witl , victory, which the. German has oftel g stated as his objective.
 Germany, by extending her line = in the east, has merely added to tn, r length of her line of communications 5 "Thus the events in Russia toda. 8 should cause us to have increasint
 confidence in final allie1 victory. "Along the western front trencf 5 raids, as well as the usual artiller.
 duels are reported Isolated countr. , attacks were conducted by the enem. < in such a manner as to indicate tha 7. no real success was expected, bu o merely to serve to ke up the az gressive spirit of the troops. a f1t is evident that the terrible pun lishment by allied artillery fire is be ginning to have a very decided effec
 along the western front. Never be 7 fibre in any series of / enga agement' } lhave so many German divisions. afte, ' Ibrief encounters, been withdrawn ant
 replaced by fresh troops. Deserter !. from German ranks taken into tn s allied lines have become increasingl! = nu' lerOuS.
 f "Rumors of an impending Austrian 8 offensive directed against Italy hav' r been current during the last week = Reports of concentration of Austrian k and German divisions to, take part il e this attack are noted.
 n Amy one familiar with the situa r tion can at once determine that theS