Arizona republican., 1917-09-27
ENTENTE ALLIES HOLD OWN UNTIL AMERICANS
 ARE REALLY M ACTION
Republican A.P. Leased Wirel

American governments first official statement concerning military opera tions in Europe was issued tonight by Secretary Baker, inaugurating a series which in time will be devoted largely to activities of the United States eX- peditionary forces. It says that While ascendancy on the western front has passed definitely to the allies, they are content merely to wear down the enemy until the force of the American army makes itself felt in the field. Operations for the week ending sep tember P are reviewed by MT Baker without reference to the American force now in France. The statement says
 .eThe secretary of war authorizes the following statement dealing with mill tarv activities in Europe for the week ending September p: AS the time draws near when mlli- tarv operations on a large scale on the i western front must come to stand- I still, owing to the approach of winter ! it becomes evident that the enemy doeS 1 not feel himself in a position to unuer- l take the much advertised offensive ac- i tion so often boasted of at home dur- | ing the past summer, in order to end . the war victoriously by Christmas. Tt may be stated affirmatively that l the ascendency in the west has passed 1 definitely to the allies, although the latter are content by tactics of attri- ! tion to wear down the enemy, giving no rest or respite until such a time as the 1 force of our army may make itself felt l in the field.
 "The week just closed has been one of increased activity on the part of the allies on the western front and may be taly Of rlat ha is to expect next spring.
 Beginning with desultory artillery fire along a broad front which gradu- ally narrowed down to an intense bom l bardment along what is known as the AnZac ridge, about one mile southwest | of Zonnebeke. southward through Nuns s ! wood to the YpresMenin road, the British increased their artillery prepa ration to a density hitherto unattained
 "The early days of the week were marked by wet, foggy weather making artillery observation difficult and any l offensive undertaking almost impos- ! sible.
 The weather having cleared by i Thursday.> September 20, the British
 launched their attack. The infantry advance was preceded by barrage of greater depth and intensity than has ever before been undertaken in any engagement during the course of the
 war. Five distinct curtains of fire
 were stretched ahead of the men as they began to advance through No
 Mans Land.
 Tn spite of the desperate resistance
 of the enemy, whose lines were pro-
 tected by concrete dugouts scattered
 over q wide area, and deep mud holes
 which impeded the attacking infantry, the British were able to gain important
 tactical positions.
 Tn the fact of six counter attacks
 pushed home vigorously by the enemy.
 the British remained in full possession
 If the captured objectives, which they
 still hold
 Tn other sectors of the western front
 there have been trench raids on a large
 scale and general activity of some inn
 poEtance
 While the British were busily en-
 gagged in breaking down the enemy re-
 sistance in Flanders, the Germans at
 tempted minor divisions along tke
 French line, particularly northeast of Nancy, which were rvpulsed
 East of Craonne the French artillery
 broke up an attempted German attack while French detachments penetrated German trenches, destroyed dugouts
 and brought back prisoners in the re-
 zion of Godat
 The week has witnessed great ac- . tivity in the air. During two days
 French bombing expeditions dropped
 33,c00 pounds of projectiles on enemy ? territory, including the barracks and , factories at Stuttgart and the aviation camp at Colmar, as well as bases south , of Metz
 ) One of the significant incidents of
 the week, as demonstrating the in- creased importance of aircraft, is re- ported by the British. An airplane dispersed a battalion of enemy infantry by turning it's machine gun on the men as they were proceeding along high . way in the rear.
 Along the Italian front the active . operations of the preceding week
 have come to a temporary stop. The
 victorious Italian armies are resting
 after the great efforts of having con
 quered the Monte San Garbiele.
 The Austrians attempted severa
 strong counter attacks against tn, f Bainsizza plateau, all of which wer, repulsed.
 s Reports to hand indicate that tn, p Austrians have made use of twenty ant I one-half divisions during the recen : Italian assault along the Carso front ' holding only one division in reserve.
 fContinued on Page Two)