Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-04
DECISIVE BATTLE
/ IN WEST, HUNS AIM
War Departments Weekly Re-
view Says Enemy Cannot En-
| dure Trench Warfare.
FAIL ON ITALIAN FRONT

An effort by the Germans to bring on q
decisive engagement on the western front
is suggested in the War Departments re-
view Of military operations for the week
ending December 1, issued by Secretary
Baker.
THE outstanding feature OF the general
military situation today" says the re-
view. is to be found in the ever-increas-
ing mobility of action of the forces en-
gagged.
fivity of movement.
TT seems that decision is being
sought by the enemy, who realizes that he
the strain of trench warfare imposed by
the allies in the west.
This explains the effort of the central
powers In massing considerable forces in
order to invade Italy-a concentration of
uation in Russia This offensive was un-
dertaken to crush the Italians and COM
pei them to sue for peace.
No Nearer Objective.
Five weeks of desperate fighting has
brought them no nearer their real OBJ
3ective in this theater.
''The Italian armies suffered serious
reverses in the early stages Of the battle.
They were compelled to give way and for
q time the military situation along the
italian front was serious. But the enc
my had underestimated the resisting
power of the Italians and discounted the
splendid morale which their forces would
display when the full magnitude Of the
impending crisis was visualized.
THE hoped revolution in Italy,
which had been sedulously fomented by
German propagandists and which was an
important part of the German plan OF
invasion. failed to materialize.
1.-THE Italians, by a magnificent effort.
feorsanized their broken forces, rapidly
reformed their cadres. and, backed by the
allies, were able, single-handed, to
check the Austro-Gerrnan invasion.
Losses Have Been Great.
'Tt would be futile to underestimate
The great losses, both Of men and ma
terial. suffered by the Italians. These
losses should serve to set forth In holder
relief the heroic efforts Of these elements
thwart the plans Of the central empires.
"The closing of the Swiss frontier for
two weeks may indicate that the enemy
is transporting large forces, both men
and guns. to the west.
barge contingents from the eastern the
alter. All good troops which can pos
sibly be spared are being dispatched to
so that though the season is not pro-
pitious for engaging in military enter
prises on a large scale, yet. owing to the
imperative necessity for q continuance of
this mobility further ofensives are to be
"on the other hand. the allies win give
mo enemy no. respite, and any offensive
undertaken by tho Germans will be
promptly met by . counter stroke Of
greater severity.
/, Csmbrai Battle Intense.
Tho battle Of Cambria continues with
'.The enemy, after tho fist onrusa, Of the
British. by bringing up fresh forces, has
been aA1o to bolster up his weakened de-
6ensee. which, for a time. fmperiled the
Securfty OF the entire Hindenburg line.
covered from the first blow and were
able to stand their ground. no further
extensive gains Of terrain by the Brit
ash were to be anticipated.
Hostile reaction has been extremely
heavy. and costly counter attacks made
BY the enemy have enabled him to re-
take q certain area, as well as occupy
terrain southwest Of the new salient
The situation along the italian front
- rapidly becoming normal Enemy
assaults In the northern sector are sub
Allied cooperation has now been
4rm1y established, in q measure re-
Heying the Italians.
In the Palestine theater of opera
lions the rapid advance Of the British
on Jerusalem. after the fall of Jaffa,
has been temporarily retarded. The re-
sistance of the Turkish forces has con-
sfderably increased and the necessity
OF bringing up further reinforcements
ana material has caused delay in the
Offensive operations.