The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-22
Officials Regard Success as
Greatest Blow Dealt
Huns During War.
MOTIVE OF ATTACK
REMAINS UNCERTAIN
Majority Believes Smash
Aimed to Relieve Pressure
on Italian Front.

Washington Nov. 2l.-Official
Washington was deeply stirred today
as press bulletins began to unfold the
scope of the smashing British victory
on the western front.
While army officers were cautious
in commenting on the significance OF
the drive in absence of the official re-
ports. it was evident in all quarters
that, on the face of press reports, Of
ficials generally regarded this as the
greatest blow dealt the Germans since
the war started. They were especially
inspired by the dash and power dis
played by Field Marshal Haig's great
war machine, as the brief bulletins
from the front pictured events from
hour to hour.
Huns Short of Powder?
There were hints in some quarters
of previous information indicating
that a shortage of ammunition con-
tributed to the German defeat. Ac-
cording to this view, the German west :
ern line has been stripped of ammu-
milton reserve and men from the stra-
tegic reserves to build up the machine
which rolled back the Italian line.
The German high command, it was
said in this connection, had counted
forces transferred to support the
shaken Italian lines as making i'm
possible any major offensive on the
western front at this time.
The daring displayed by the British
in launching their greatest assault OF
the war without artillery preparation
was freely commented on by officers
1t is the first time assaults on thor
oughly organized trench lines have
ever been made, except after the guns
have blasted a way through for the
infantry. The use of the tanks tC
clear away barbed wire entanglements
and presumably to batter down "pil
boxes and othef strong points. also
was novel procedure. The success OF
the movement probably depends Who'll
ly on the complete surprise, which was
possible only by moving forward with
out the usual accompaniment of ar
tillery fire.
Officers here have discussed fire.
queHttS, Ill Iiic last leW HioHtHS, tHt
possibility of restoring the element oi
surprise attack in trench operations
in just this way. Some have thought
it could be done. while others have
held that without destruction of tht
barbed wire entanglement with high
explosive shells the infantry would be
halted on its first rush. The use Of
the tanks solved this problem for the
British.
To Relieve Italian Front.
There was much speculation tonight
as to the immediate motive for the
attack. Officers were in agreement
that it was designed to relieve pres
sure on the Italian front and probably
also to prevent the carrying out o.
any plans the Germans might have
had for an attack against the arm,
holding the Saloniki front In the face
of the press reports of the scope o.
the British victory they were inclined
to believe that these results had beer
accomplished.
Some officers here were hopeful tha
the drive would have the immediate
effect of compelling the German higi
command to abandon the Italian cam.
paign or so reducing it's forces ther'
that the combined Italian. British ant
French armies could drive the Teuton.
back into the mountains.