Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-12
DECEMBER, Il, 1917
GERMANS STRONGER
NOW THAN EVER
We Must Prepare Not Only to
Fight, But to Win, Says Sec
rotary Baker.


Washington, o.. c.--Tn startlingly frank
fashion Secretary of War Bakers week
y summary warns the nation not to min
imize the danger OF the newly massed
Teuton hordes on the west front.
Stripped of its verbiage, the statement
amounted to notice that with the added
forces Germany has drawn from the east
front. she constitutes a graver danger
han at any time in the past two and ~
half years.
The Germans MAJ even he able to
achieve some relative advantage" -sucfi
as they did in the past week at Cam
brai-Baker added, through a temporary
predominance of numerical strength.
After reviewing the British retiremen,
in the Cambria section and paying trlD-
ute to the American engineers Valor in
that fight Baker warned America must
speed up lis military efforts, prepare not
only to fight, but to win and be en-
tireiy united.
Aimed at British.
This German parrying thrust, the most
powerful and successful blow aimed al
the British during the past two and a
half years, coming as It did Immediately
after the British victory in the same area.
serves to emphasize the reviving strength
af the Germans in the west, he con-
tinucd.
I'VE must recognize plainIy chat thu.
situation in the eastern theatre has
brought about a very decided change II
the strategic possibilities in the military
situation in the west Germany, by leaE-
ing only a skeleton division in the Rus
sian area by concentrating all available
guns, munitions and men in the theatre
of operation in the west has been able to
mass a relatively greater force than she
has ever been able to cloDlilze IN France,
Success Explained.
'This explains the success which the
enemy has been able to obtain in driv-
ing the British back from Cambria.
ut would not do for us to minimize
it's Importance. The enemy realizes THAI
he finds himself in snguarly fortunate
position and he can be counted upon to
take the utmost advantage of it,"
For a long time past he has been
preparing his plans for just such an
eventuality as would arise when Russia
should enter upon negotiations for sepa-
rate peace, which has been q principa,
German objective ever since the battle OF
Tannenberg. We must expect that he
will put these plans into execution. Thus
he may have at his disposal for a time a
preponderant numerical superior in the
west; he may even be able to achieve
some relative advantages in the field
sue has those recorded during the past
week
Magnitude Of Task.
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.
~ means tuat we must speed up OW
military effort. The united nation must
stand squarely behind our soldiers.
ut is not sufficient to prepare to fight
must prepare to win.
Though during the preceding winters,
OF the war. the belligerents at this al ,
vanced season of the year had been con.
tent to hold the positions won waiting
for the most favorable weather of tho
early spring to continue operations, this
year he western front is the scene OF
numerous engagements"
indicated to Baker that the German r.
testing out the strength of the units OPP
posed TO hin-probably with view t.
forceful drive at a weak spot
'"rhe full energy of Italian forces will
be required, the statement said. to pre-
vent the uns from dehauching to the
main Bretna valley and the plains be,
low.
"Our declaration of war against Aus
tria now associates MS Intimately wifi
the struggle going on in Italy" Baker
declared.