Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1917-10-10
SEC'y BAKER ISSUES
WEEKLY WAR REVIEW

Observation-Disclosures = aScendency
for the allies in the supreme test OF
battle streL. 9Th now taking place on
the bloody fields of Flanders is claim.
ed by Secretary Baker in the weekly
review of war operations issued by the
war department.
While it may be premature to assert
that the British war machine has
forced a Lewiston over the Germans,
Mr.. Baker says, the victories of the
past fortnight, threatening the Ger
man submarine bases on the Belgian
coast, are conclusive indications of al
lied superiority. With favorable
weather he thinks these victories will
be repeated and extended.
The review for the week, makes no
reference to the American forces in
France or to the great preparations
for war going forward at home.
Titanic Struggle in Flanders.
"The attention OF the world" it
says, sis focused on the titanic strug-
gle now going on in Flanders. The
battle raging there is proving an en-
gagement Of wholly unprecedented
scope and potentialities.
cat the beginning of the week, ow-
ing to bad weather, the Germans were
able to launch counter-attacks against
the positions recently gained by the
British. Notwithstanding the fact
that the Germans made use of smoke
screens, liquid fire and brought into
action an imposing array of artillery
in their attack against the advanced
British lines between the Tower Ham
lets and Polygon wood as we'll as
along the Menin road, their efforts
proved futile.
ut is significant on the other hand,
that while the British were sustaining
the shock of German assaults sue.
cesssfully they were able to bring UP
sufficient fresh troops in order to
launch another offensive action on
an eve larger scale than the proceed
ing one in the face of the enemy's on
slaught.
Drive Sweeping Onward.
Slowly, but therefore the most ir-
of the German line in the west is
sweeping onward.
The wisdom of the British in
maintaining a great density of front
would appear justified by the results
achieved during the past week. 1t
must be borne in mind that it is due
to the depth of the British line as
much as to n other enc factor, that,
while the enemy is still Keeling under
one blow, the allies are ready to de-
liver another and still a third.
ut has been characteristic of the
campaign in Flanders hitherto that
neither belligerent has attained what
we may call a decisive success.
The Germans have massed their
greatest war strength along this bat
tie front"
Sound Strategy.
ITO attack them at their strongest
point of resistance is sound strategy.
1.-THE defeats inflicted upon them
during the past fortnight are con
elusive indications of allied superior
ity. In the light of past experiences,
it may be premature to assert that
the British have succeeded in forcing
a decision, but it may be stated with
emphasis that in no engagement hith-
erto has such .vigor, energy and con-
certed speed of action been displayed.
"The full success of these opera.
lions means that the Belgian coast,
with its numerous submarine bases,
will become untenable to the enemy.
Zeebrugge, Ostend and the system Of
canals leading out of Bruges are
threatened.
THE supreme test of the battle
strength of the contending belliger-
ents is taking place. Allied ascend.
ency would appear decisive.
Contributing Factors.
"The two immediate contributing
factors of this success are: Air con-
troll and shell supply.
"The former made it possible for
the allies to locate enemy concentra-
lions, the latter to break them up be-
fore they could develop into serious
offensive actions, at the same time
permitting their own concentration Of
men and guns to be carried out with
clockwork regularity, unhampered by
enemy interference.
"The British are thus able to re
port that since July 81 last they have
not lost a single gun, while they have
captured 1872 field and heavy guns and
taken 81, 435 prisoners. During the