The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-10
Secretary Baker Frankly States
Danger Is Grave.
Thrust at Cambria Germany's
Most Powerful Blow.
SPEED UP U. S. WAR MACHINE
Hun Army in France Greatest
Since War Began.
Now Intimately Assoc
ciated With Italian Front.

Washington, Dec. 1O.-In startling
frank fashion Secretary Bakers week
ly war summary warned the nation
not to minimize the danger of the
newly massed Teuton hordes on the
west front.
Stripped of it's verbiage, the state
ment amounted to notice that with
the added forces Germany has drawn
from the east front, she constitutes a
graver danger than at any time in the
past two and half years.
The Germans may even be able to
achieve some relative advantages"
such as they did the past week at
Cambria, Baker added, thru a tenn
porary predominance of numerical
strength.
After reviewing the British retire.
ment in the Cambria sector and pay
ing tribute to the American engi-
neers' valor in that fight, Baker warn
ed America must speed up its military
effort prepared not only to fight but
to win," and be entirely united.
Revived Strength in West.
This German parrying thrust, the
most powerful and successful blow
aimed at the British dlring the past
two and a half years, coming as it did
Immediately after the British victory
the reviving strength of the Germans
in the west" Baker continued
I'VE must recognize plainly that the
situation in the eastern theater has
the strategic possibilities of the mill
tary situation in the west. Germany,
by leaving only skeleton divisions in
the Russian area, by concentrating all
available guns, munitions and men in
the theater of operations in the west,
hi to nVsafT xra1rr
greater force than she has ever been
able to mobilize in France in the past
This explains the success which the
enemy has been able to achieve in
driving the British back from Cam
brai.
TT would not do for US to minimize
its Importance. The enemy realizes
that he finds himself in a singularly
fortunate position, and he can be
counted upon to take the utmost adj
vantage of it.
Long Hoped for Russ Collapse.
For long time past he has been
preparing his plans for just such an
eventuality as would arise when Rus
STA should enter upon negotiations for
a separate peace, which has been a
principal German objective ever since
the battle of Tanneberg. We must
expect that he will put these plans into
execution. Thus he may have at his
disposal for time a preponderant
numerical superiority in the west; he
may even be able to achieve some
relative advantages in the field, such
as those recorded during the past
week.
1.-The magnitude of the task before
us can be more fully realized when
measured by the success which the
enemy is still able to gain.
TT means that we must speed up
sour military effort. The united nation
must stand squarely behind our sol
diers.
'It is not sufficient to prepare to
fight. We must prepare to win.
Fight On Thru Winter.
Tho during the preceding win
this advanced position of the year had
been content to hold the positions
won, waiting for the more favorable
weather of the early spring to con-
tinue operations. this year the west
ern front is the scene of numerous
engagements"
The prevalence of raids along the
front indicated to Baker that the Ger
man is testing out the strength of
units opposed to him-probably with
a view to forceful drives at a weak
point
THE full energy of the Italian
forces will be required, the statement
said, to prevent the Huns from de-
bouching to the main Brenta valley
and the plains below.
"Our declaration of war against Aus
! tria now associates us Intimately with
the struggle going on in Italy" Baker
| declared.