Evening star., 1917-12-09

more fruitless attack against the
French. The artillery actions in this
section have been conetant for more
than ten days and their intensity
would indicate that there is q possibil-
i.y tina. the Germans will continue their
efforts to draw closer to the coveted
citadel. The French, on the other hand.
have been Inactive from an offensive
standpoint in this region for some
weeks. and it Is within the bounds OF
possibility that theS also will strike
forward.
Owing to the fact that more can be
gained at the present moment in the
section lying to the northwest OF
| Rheims, where a successful French
blow possibly would endanger the
whole southern section of the German
line. the French are expected to move
forward here at any -juneture. The
Germans still. strongly hold Laon. The
French are but short distance away
still resting on the banks Of the ALI
lette river Owing to the character of
terrain in this particular section, it
being marshy.sa French blow in the
region of Rheims farther east of en-
veloplng character would prove more
successful than would any effort to-
ward frontal attack across the All
lette. The artillery units or both bel
ngerent armies in these regions have
been exceedingly active in recent days
Z
certainly would 1t assist the British In
their offort in the region of Cambrai
and possibly force the e1nployment Of
German units which otherwise would
be sent for the hig push against Gen.
Byng. 49, = 7s
America was thrilled as were all of
the United States expeditionary troops
in France by the brave conduct of sew
eral hundred American engineers work
ing behind the British lines in the re-
gfon of .Gouzeaucourt. Tie Germa ms
swept forward in a Tremendous attack.
The American saw them coming and
many of these railroad builders seized
| guns from their British comrades and
f! joined in the general defense against
| the enemy. Their action mas wor, the
| plaudits of allied generals and the Of
and England have paid them unstinted
praise for their bravery. Thirteen men
were wounded.
/, y brave defense is being made by ItaI-
ian armies on the battle front stretch
1 4.y.4, ing from As;ago
/, Italians Make to the Rrenta river
Brave Defense. ars meef1 ma,'Ds shs German. man.
chief effort to break through the l,al-
ian lines and march down upon the
Venetian plains on both sides OF the
Brenta river. The Teutons have as
much at stake in this arena, now ,ba,
the allies have made it a part OF the
western front. s tEsy have in the re-
gion of Cambrai.
During the past week the Germans a,
first delivered many small attacks in
the region to the west of the river
Breata and also between the Brenta
and the Piave, These evidently were
sounding operations, for the chief at
miles west of the Brenta, where the
mountain passes are difficult to defend
and where If the Germans brea,;
through they will have little difficulty
IN forcing general Italian retiremen
from the defenses along the P;ave
The Germans claim to have captured
fully fifteen thousand Italians in the
operations thus far. Monte Sismon
Monte Tonderecar and Monte Badenec-
che have been the scenes of Italian re-
verses. but notwithstanding the mighty
Teutonic effort to break the Italian
more. allied military experts continue to
express the belief that they will re-
main SO Notwithstanding the terrible
nerceness of the enemys effort The
depth of about three miles on front o,
ten.
The Germans also have made incur
sions along the middle and lower Piave
idurfng the past week, but the ese
have not been in force. The erec-
river at Grave de Papadopole indicates
that possibiy'the Germans win attempt
to smash over the riyer in the middle
of the Italian line, though this bridge
building maneuver maGshaye been in
'stigated- to- divert italian attention
o. aas - 30 -s--