Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-12
sEC'Y BAKER ISSUES
WEEKLY WAR REVIEW

battle strength now taking place on
the bloody fields of Flanders Is claim
ed by Secretary Baker In the weekly
review of war operations issued by the
war department.
While 1t may be premature to assert
that the British war machine mas
forced a Lewiston 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
be 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" 1t
says, lis focused on the titanic strug-
gle now going on in Flanders. The
battle raging there is proving an en-
gagement 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 well as
along the Menin road, their efforts
proved futile
at is significant on the other hand,
that while the British we're sustaining
the shock of German assaults sue
cesssfully they we're able to bring up
sufficient fresh troops in order to
launch another offensive action on
an even larger scale than the proceed
ing one In the face of the enemys on
slaught
Drive Sweeping onward.
Slowly, but therefore the most IT.
resistibly the allied drive at the heart
of the German line in the west Is
sweeping onward.
1.-THE wisdom of the British In
maintaining a great density OF front
would appear justified by the results
achieved during the past week II
must be borne in mind that 1t Is due
to the depth of the British line as
much as to any other enc factor, that,
while the enemy is still Keeling under
one blow, the allies are ready to de-
liver another and still third.
eft has been characteristic Of the
campaign in FLANDERS hitherto that
neither belligerent has attained what
we may call decisive success.
"The Germans have massed their
greatest war strength along this bat
tie front"
Sound Strategy.
ITO attack them at their strongest
point of resistance is sound strategy
THE defeats inflicted upon them
\ during the past fortnight are con
A elusive indications Of allied superior
a ity. In the light Of past experiences
i II may be premature to assert ina
IA the British have succeeded in forcing
r. a decision. but it may be stated viii
y, emphasis that in no engagement hith
ri erto has such vigor, energy and con
NJ certed speed Of action been displayed
i "The full success OF these opera
n tions means that the Belgian coast
n with its numerous submarine bases
will become untenable to the enemy
n Zeebrugge. Ostend and the system
- canals leading out Of Bruges ar
~ threatened
M "The supreme test OF the battl
M strength of the contending belligel
h ents is taking place. Allied ascent
~ ency would appear decisive.
E Contributing Factors.
Il "The two immediate contributin
fS factors of this success are: Air col
M troll and shell supply.
~ "The former made 1t possible fo
~ the allies to locate enemy concentr
g tions. the latter to break them up b
fore they could develop into serio'
a offensive actions. at the same tin
#j permitting their own concentration
HI men and guns to be carried out Wi
~ clockwork regularity, unhampered
. enemy interference.
1.-THE British are thus able TO :
lal port that since July 81 last they ma
Inc not lost single gun, while they ha
ent captured 1872 field and heavy guns al
taken SLABS prisoners. During I
fighting Of the past two days tn
have added 4,446 prisoners. includi
ia officers, to this imposing total
u Enemy Restless Danger.
"Tbe enemy realizes the danger
is facing.
I'VE may expect him to counter
"a tack in force. He may even reg'
N certain secondary detectives tenn
I'M rarily. but the British war machine
aS moving forward, and II time perm
4N and the combat season remains op
,SX with the weather continuing favora
z for reconnaissance and careful
craft observations, the allied victor
~ of the past two weeks mill in
IN probability be repeated and extend
"The enemy pressure along
SHS eastern front has been relieved
|sS the strong allied offensive in F
S ders. No engagements of more Z
l s local Importance are reported in
&S3S east.