The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-10-11
.SEC'Y BAKER ISSUES
WEEKLY MAR REVIEW

/ ashiugt0n.--Decisive ascendency
! for the allies in the supreme test OF
! battle strength now taking place on
! the bloody licids Of Flanders is claim.
! cd by Secretary Baker in the weekly
! review of war operations issued by tho
| war department.
While il may be premature to assert
,hu; the British war machine has
forced ii drvision over the Germans.
Mr.. Baker says, the victories of the
past fortnight threatening the Ger.
man submarine bases on the Belgian
coast. are conclusive indications Of al.
lied superiority. With favorable
weather he thinks these victories will
he repeated and extended.
The review for the week. makes no
reference to the American forces in
France or TO the great preparations
for war going forward at home.
Titanic Struggle in Flanders
THE attention OF the world" it
says is focused on the titanic strug-
!u HOW going on in FLANDERS. The
attle raging there is proving an en-.
sagcment Of wholly unprecedented
scope and potentialities.
AT the beginning Of the week, ow.
ing to bad weather, the Germans were
able to launch counter-attacks against
the positions recently gained by the
British. Notwithstanding the fact
that the Germans made use of smoke
screens, liquid fire and brought into
action an imposing array of artillery
in their attack against the advanced
British lines between the Tower Ham.
lets and Polygon wood as we'll as
long the Menin road their efforts
proved futile.
1T is significant on the other hand,
hat while the British were sustaining
tho shock Of German assaults sue.
"sSsfully they were able to bring up
sufficient fresh troops in order to
launch another offensive action on
m even larger scale than the preced-
ng one in the face Of the enemy's on
laught
Drive Sweeping Onward.
Slowly, but therefore the most ir.
the allied drive at the heart
ii the German line in the west is
weeping onward
The wisdom of the British in
maintaining great density OF front
would appear justified by the results
chievcd during the past week. 1t
must be borne in mind that it is due
0 the depth Of the British line as
n 81
lille the enemy is still reeling under
ne blow, the allies are ready to de-
Yer another and still third
"It has been characteristic of the
'ampaign in Flanders hitherto that
either belligerent has attained what
'e may call decisive success.
"The Germans have massed their
reatest war strength aloLg this bat
lie front"
Sound Strategy.
"To attack them at their strongest
Oint Of resistance Is sound strategy.
The defeats inflicted upon them
Turing the past fortnight are con.
lusive indications Of allied superior.
ty. In the light of past experiences,
t may be premature to assert that
he British have succeeded in forcing
decision, but it may be stated with
emphasis that in no engagement hith.
.rto has such vigor, energy and con.
.ertcd spccd OF action been displayed
"The full success OF these opera.
ions means that the Belgian coast,
with its numerous submarine. bases,
will become untenable to the enemy.
Ostend anOthe system of
'anals leading out Of Bruges are
threatened
"Thc supreme test Of the battle
strength Of the contending belliger-
cnts Is taking place. Allied ascend.
ency would appear decisive
Contributing Factors.
"The two immediate contributing
factors OF this success are Air con-
troll and shell supply.
"Thc former made it possible for
the allies to locate enemy concentra-
tons the latter to break them up be-
fore they could develop into serious
offensive actions. at the same time
permitting their own concentration Of
men and guns to he carried out with
clockwork regularity. unhampered by
enemy iptcll ference.
"Thc British are thus able to re-
port that since July 81 last they have
not lost single gun. while they have
captured 332 field and heavy guns and
taken 81 .435 prisoners. During the
fighting OF the past two days they
have added 4,44G prisoners including
4 G,fE IL. itaaI al oil