The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
BAKERS WAR REVIEW.
ECRETARY CONFIDENTLY EX.
PECTS ITALIAN DEFENSE TO
CONTINUE.
National Army Takes Serious Hold on
WOrk--Germans Fail to Make
Headway Against French and Brit
ish--Great Turk Losses I'm Pales-
tine.

Washington. Nov. 1S.-Hardening
Of the Italian defense and the pre-
cision with which British and French
reinforcements are being delivered in
the Italian theater lead Secretary
Baker in his weekly review tonight to
contemplate the future in that field
with confidence. He points out, how
ever, that the full strength of the
Austro- German effort has not yet
been developed.
Renewed allied offensives on the
Western front after the lull of the
past week. Mr.. Baker says, are indi-
Gated by increased artillery fire and
the nervousness exhibited by the Ger
mans. The only reference to the Sec
tor of this front where American
that the men have shown themselves
worthy of the best traditions Of the
American army.
THE training Of our National
Army is now progressing rapidly"
the statement says. THE morale of
our new citizen soldiers is reported as
excellent.
1.-The men who have been called
upon to defend our country in the
present emergency are taking hold Of
the work in q serious high minded
spirit. which will produce the best
results.
THE British and French officers
who are to assist in instructing our
new armies are arriving
"In France the training of our
troops is being carefully continued. In
the sector where our forces are in the
trenches they have shown them
selves worthy of the best traditions of
our army.
After the successes gained by the
allies in the West during the preced-
ing week the relative calm Of the last
several days was to be anticipated.
1T is significant. however, that the
reaction of the enemy has been rela-
lively slight, both in the region north
of the Aisne and in Flanders.
At this season of the year the sod
den. fog-bound fields Of Flanders and
the bad weather which prevails along
the entire Western front makes it diff
icult to coordinate major operations
with precision.
Along other sectors Of the front
held by the British no engagements
OF importance are reported.
Along the French front no engage
ments Of Importance are recorded.
THE news from Italy is more en-
Operations involving the
skillful handling of large masses of
troops and the reorganization OF de-
fensive positions. entailing superhu-
man efforts on the part of officers and
men alike, have been carried out b,
the Italian armies with energy and
courage.
"All sectors of the Italian theatc;
OF operations continue the scene o.
much hard fighting.
"On the Piave and in the region o.
Lake Cards. as well as along the
Brenta. it would appear that the enc
my, while scoring local advantages.
being successfully restrained.
"On the lower Piave the hostile at
tempt to cross the river was PARTIAL.
unsuccessful resulting in the capture
OF Zenson. The italians have opened
the dikes in this sector, which vii
render the enemy advance difficult"
The secretary then reviews q
length the military situation in Pales
tine and Mesopotamia, which he saw,
must be considered if we are TO ar
rive at a clear perspective of the pur-
poses Of the war" He asserts that
the investment of Jerusalem bv the
British Is taking shape. that Jaffa. the
principal seaport Of Palestine. is un
der allied gunfire by land and sea
and indicates that it's fall is impend-
ing, to the great relief of the allied
supply lines. (The British announced
late Saturday that they had taken
Jaffa). That the Turkish forces in
Palestine have lost half their effec-
tives in the fighting also is noted.
Mr.. Baker notes increased activity
i'm the Balkan theater and concludes
with the statement that the situation
I'm Russia continues disturbed.
BRITISH TAKE JAFFA.