The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-12-06
KAISER SEEKS To
FORCE A CRISIS
REALIZES FORCES CANNOT MUCH
LONGER ENDURE.
OBJECT or GREAT BLOW SEEN
Secretary Of War Baker, In His Week.
iy Review, Declares Teutons Will
Try to Fight Decisive Battle In
, West Before Spring.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The Germans
realize that they cannot much longer
endure the strain of trench warfare
imposed upon them by the allies. They
must attempt to bring the var to a
crisis. This was the object of their
! great blow ana prepared propagandist
campaign In Italy and It's failure makes
II all the more necessary that the Ger
mans should begin offensive operations
elsewhere.
These are the striking conclusions
or Secretary of War Bakersin a review
OF operations on all fronts during the
week ending December ]. His state
ment follows: w. - .,,'E'
The outstanding feature of the
general military situation today is to
be found In the ever-incrensing moi,il-
ity of action Of the forces engaged.
| Says Foe Seeks Decision.
static warfare is giving way to ac-
tvity of movement. 1t seems that q
decision IS being sought by the enemy,
who realizes that he cannot endure for
a much longer period the strain Of
trench warfare imposed by the allies
| In the west. .. 'Ha ~
This explains the effort of the CEN
tral powers In massing considerable
forces in order to invade Italy-a con-
centration Of troops made possible by
the internal situation in Russia This
offensive was undertaken to crush the
Italians and compel them to sue for
I peace. Five weeks of desperate fight
ing has brought them no nearer their
real objective in this theater.
"The Italian armies suffered seri-
Gus reverses in the early stages Of the
battle. But the enemy had underesti-
mated the resisting power of the Ital-
ians and discounted the splendid mo-
rale which their forces would display
when the full magnitude Of the i'm
pending crisis was vtsualized. The
| hoped-for revolution in Italy sedulous-
ly fomented by German propagandists
and an important part of the German
| plan of invasion, failed to materialize.
| The Italians, by a magnificent effort,
recognized their broken forces, rap
lsidly reformed their lines and backed
by the allies, were able, single-handed,
| TO check the Austro- German invasion.
'"The closing of the Swiss frontier
| for two weeks may indicate that the
enemy Is transporting large forces,
| both men and guns, to the west. Though
| the season is not prOpitious for engag-
ing in military enterprises on large
scale, yet owing to the imperative ne
cessity for continuance of this mo-
biity further Offensives are to be an
| ticipated. On the other hand, the al
lies will give the enemy no respite, and
any offensive undertaken by the Ger
\ mans will be promptly met by q coun-
ter-stroke of greater severity.
"The battle of Cambria continues
| with canguinary intensity. Infantry
activity somewhat abated during the
! latter part of the week, when the en-
envy apparently passed to the offensive
and was able to break through the
newly won British positions south Of
Masnieres. The British have the situ-
alton well in hand and announce the
| repulse of the enemy, who has been
driven from the positions captured
an the Ypres salient, especially in
| the Passcliendaele sector, artillery ac-
| tivity was noted. No infantry actions
! took place.
"AlonS the French front minor op.
erations are recorded. North of the
Aisne artillery duels continue. -.
"In the Argonne the Increasing in
tensity of battle artillery is noted. On
| the right bank Of the Meuse the
French carried forward successful
thrust of q, local character north Of
| Hill 344. y 4.
"The situation along the Italian front
is rapidly becoming normal. Enemy
assaults In the northern sector are
subsiding. Allied cooperation has now
been firmly established in measure
relieving the Italians. -
I "In Palestine, the rapid advance of
the British on Jerusalem, after the fall
of Jaffa, has been temporarily retarded
due to the necessity of bringing up fur
Their re-enforcements and material.
'In Albania attacks along the front
held by the Italians were repeated.
"Along other fronts no engagements.