Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-11
GREATEST BOCHE ARMY
MAssED ON WEST FRONT
Teutons Take Advantage Of Russian
Armistice for Big Offensive
Against France, Says Baker.
We MUST PREPARE TO WIN
United Nation Must Support Soldiers
in Witbstanding Drive - Enemy
Temporarily in Fortunate Posi-
ton. and VIII Utilize 1t.
IEy Araoclatcd Press. |

many has nias3cd on tho western front
her greatest army OF the war, Secrc-
;ary Baker declares In his weekly war
rcview made public to-day. TO meet
this menace. tho United States must
speed up It's military preparations. the
secretary adds, with warning that
the enemy is preparing to put into
execution in France plans hc has been
maturing since the defeat of tho Rus
slam armies a Tannenbcrs carly IN the
war. Tho peace negotiations with
Russia have permitted the massins OF
men on tho western front for that
purpose.
THE united nation must stand
squarely behind our soldiers" tho Sec
rotary says. 1T Is not sufficient to pre-
pare TO fight: we must prepare to win"
The review asserts the German
commemorative on the Cambria front
has been successful in winning back
less than onc-third OF the territory
captured by General Byng. The state
mcnt also notes that American engineer
troops Exchanging shovcls for rifles,
fought off the enemy. side By side with
tho British"
The lesson Of the German exhibition
Of strength is then taken up
This German parryina thrust the
most powerful and successful blow
aimed at the British during the past
two and one-balf years. coming as 1t
did. Immediately after tho British vic
tory In the same area, serves to cmpha-
size the revivinG strength Of the Ger
mans In the west.
TEUTONs MASsING ALL
AVAILABLE FORCES IN WEST
I'VE must recognize plainly that the
situation in the eastern theater has
brought about very decided change
In the strategic possibilities OF tho
military situation in the west;
Germany. by leaving only Skeleton
divisions In the Russian area, by con-
ccntraiing all available guns. NUM-
tons and men in the theatcr OF opera
lions in the west. has been able to mass
IL relatively greater force than she has
ever been able TO mobilize in France
III tho past.
This explains the success which the
enemy was able to achieve in driyin.
tho British back from Cambria It
would not do for US 10 minimize it's
Importance.
The enemy realizes that he finds
himself temporarily in singular,
fortunate position. and he can be
counted upon to take The utmost ad-
vantage Of IL,
For n long time past he has been
preparing his plans for Just all event
uality as would arise when Euss!l
should enter upon negotiations for "A
separate peace, which has been a prin-
cipal German objective ever since the
battle OF Tannenber.. We must expect
I.lf 10
cution. Thus he may have at his dis
posal for time prcpondcrant num-
erical superiority in The west; he may
even be able TO achieve some relative
advantages in the field. such as those
recorded during the last week
The magnitude Of the task before
us can he more fully realized when
measured by the success which the
enemy is still able 10 gam.
IT means that we must speed up
cur military effort. The united nation
mus, stand squarely behind our SOL
Uicra.
1t is not sufficient TO prepare to
i.ht: we must prepare to win"
ENPEClED Hun THRUST
AGAINST FRENCH HINTED AT
The review also hints at an expected
German thrust against the French
front. and says:
Tho number OF hostile raids exc
cutcd along the French front north
west Of Rheims. in Argonne, in the
region OF st. Quentin, in the vosscs.
and particularly in upper Alsace, as
we'll as the increasing enemy artillery
activity north of tho Chcmin des
DANES. on the right bank OF the Mcusc.
in Chaume wood. Masons de Cham
pagne, and upper Alsacc, would appear
10 Indicate that the enemy is feeling
out the French front with a view to
identifying the strength OF the units
opposing him. Respecting the Italian
front the statement says significantly:
Our declaration OF war against
Austria now associates US Immediately
with the struggle on in Italy"
Discussing armistice negotiations on
The Russian front. the statement SAYS
the agreement covers the entire line"
from the Baltic to the Black Sea, as
well as TIC region Of the Caucasus"
The Roumanian armies" it con.
tinues. while repudiating all attempts
made by the enemy to fraternize with
them. have been. by force OF circum.
stances compclle to accept the pro-
posais for truce"
Secretary Baker makes this state
ment as TO conditions in Palestine:
The success Of British operations in
Palestine has had a very decided mill.
iary effect through the Ottoman en-
pirc, and much Of the pressure which
the German higher command had hoped
TO bring to bear in Mesopotamia with
the view TO recapturing Eagdad has
been relieved.
I'm Mesopotamia the British are car
rying forward their operation on the
right bank OF the Dale River with
great success. IT is interesting to
record that a small Russian dctach
mcnt co-opcrated In this engagement
with the British
Fined Under Rome Dry Law.
i!jen smith and Sarah AIcCira W.
colored, who were arrested on the