Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1917-10-26
WINTER NOT TO STOP
DRIVE IN FLANDERS
WASHINGTON EXPERTS DO NOT
EXPECT COLD. TO STOP
OPERATIONS.
ENEMIES TO GET NO REST
Weekly Review Of War Operations
ALLIES Have Men and Material to
Overcome Natural Obstacies-U. s.
Troops Take Part nBattie.

Washington.-Milit experts here
do not expect winter to halt the great
allied drive against the Germans in
Flanders. Secretary Bakers weekly
review Of war operations discloses tho
belief of the war department. that po-
tency OF material and men will enable
the British and French commanders
TO triumph over natural obstacles and
continue forcing the enemy backward
without waiting for spring
The review touches for the first time
upon the American eXpeditionary
forces in FraLce, declaring the men.
after three months intensive training.
are in efficient fighting trim and splen-
did physical condition.
In dwelling upon the Importance of
the battle OF Flanders and its effect
upon the morale OF the Germans, the
war secretary declares 1t apparent that
the German high command planned
the recent expedition against the Rus
slams in the Riga sector in order to
bolster up morale and meet impend-
ing internal difficulties. BY extending
her lines In the east, he adds Ger
many has merely added to the length
of her line OF communications and
increased confidence In the final allied
victory.
The review covering the week end.
ing October 20. follows:
Our men in France. after three
months intensive training are in splen.
did physical condition and efficient
fighting trim. They have readily be-
come acclimatized aid now feel at
home in the war zone
Our troops have met with the most
warm-hearted and enthusiastic recep.
ton on the part Of the armies and
people Of France.
''The health of our men overseas
Is reported as excellent.
"The week just closed has been one
OF relative quiet on all fronts.
Bad Weather Prevails.
bad weather already prevails along
tho western front. wintry conditions
will soon set in and the terrin will
become increasingly difficult for at.
tacking troops. Nevertheless. the po-
tency OF allied material and men, the
accumulation OF the technical means
OF combat. aid the preparations which
have been going on for many months
Will make II possible for the British
and French commanders to triumph
over natural obstacles. and with few
short intervals we may expect the Of.
fensive to press forward
ut is not anticipated that the allies
will go into winter quarters this year.
The full Importance OF the battle
In Flanders is beginning to be reveal
ed In order to appreciate the real
significance Of this engagement and
the effect 1t has had on the morale of
the German army and the German peo-
pie. we must consider briefly the
German attacks in the Riga sector, in
cluding the capture OF Oesel, Dago.
and other minor islands of the Fin.
nish gulf
while no attempt should be made
to belittle the importance of the DO
sitions gained by the enemy, we can.
not fail to record that IL Is apparent
that the Germans undertook this ex.
pedition with view to bolstering up
the morale OF the country. more par.
ticularly in order tn be able to mee,
the impending in erhal difficulties
which threaten to Culminate in re.
newed cabinet crisis in the near fu
ture.
Anything for Victory.
THE German higher command has
invariably picked out a weakened OBJ
jective. In order to be able to record
success which she uld be OF political
rather than militar. value. The asl
ands OF the Finnish coast in the hand
OF the enemy in no way Offset the re-
cent allied Yictorie, In Elanhnra