Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-29
Secretary Baker in His
Weekly Review, Takes
Optimistic View of the
Military Situation.
Admits Italy Is Passing
Through Difficult Moment
but Considers Operations
on Western Frcnt of Ma
jor Importance.

Washington, Oct. 29.-While pre-
dieting another strategic retreat by
the Germans on the west front, Sec
retary of War Bakers weekly war re-
view today admits that Italy is pass
ing through difficult moment"
No indications is given as to what
the allied war chiefs may do to relieve
| the gignatic pressure of Hun hordes
sweeping over the plains of Italy.
| Bakers report apparently was pre-
pared before the Austro- German thrust
assumed its present critical proper
tions. 1t outlines as the foremost de-
yelopmerts OF the week the British
and French advances on the west
front.
Anticipating important develop
ments, soon the report states that
any strategic retirement by the Ger
mans in the west would not be under
conditions less favorable than hereto
fore.
SUPERIORITY INCREASING.
The allied superiority is increas asingiy
apparent, the statement adds There
is a steady rise in the enemy casual
ties.
Russia, Baker adds, is apparently
consolidating her resistance and be
believes the Germans will probably not
try to do more than strengthen their
Riga holdings now. The statement
follows:
Renewed activity prevails in all
theaters of war
Important developments would ap-
pear to be impending.
Along the western, eastern and
Italian fronts in Macedonia, Rumania,
Mesopotamia and even in east Africa
significant operations are In progress
DRIVES BROADEN IN SHAPE.
1T is evident that the allied drives
along the western front are broadening
in scope and intensity. The whole
front from the Houthulst wood,
through the Passchendaele ridge
southwark to Lens. and on to the Aisne
is becoming the scene OF increasingly
heavy allied pressure which the enemy
is withstanding with difficulty.
side by side the French and British
are pushing on through the Flemish
lowlands toward Roulers.
THE enemy believing he might find
! a rift in the otherwise impregnabie al
lied line at the point of junction be-
tween the Franco British forces, di-
rected repeated heavy counter attacks
there. These were repulsed.
while the British attacks during
the past week have been carried out
with imposing effectiveness, 1t is ap-
parent that the British command Is
maneuvering in order to gain import
ant tactical advantages at a minimum
cost.
THE casualties to the enemy are
rising steadily.
GAINS ENLARGED.
Slowly the allies are enlarging their
gains in Flanders driving into the
heart of German resistance in the west.
The German armies fight on stub
bornly. II any further evidence of al
lied superiority be needed it seems to
be supplied by the decisive successes
won by the French during the past
week.
This offensive was launched on a
six mile war front near the west end
of the Chemin des danes at dawn on
Oct %.
General Petain so well masked his
preparations that the enemy was taken
by surprise as to the exact terrain
chosen for the attack and was over
whelmed before being able to organize
concentrated resistance.
THE German lines were penetrated
to depth Of well over two miles at
one point.
This first attack was Immediately
followed by a second assault In this
| same sector, crowned with full sue
cess.
MANY PRISONERS TAKEN.
TN three days fighting the French
have taken, l.. .QlN urisoners. 120 glina