Evening star., 1918-01-08
GERMAN DRIVE WILL
Be THEIR GREATEST
But British and French Can
Withstand 1t, Secretary
Baker Says.
WEEKLY WAR REVIEW

The expected German offensive in the
:. west, Secretary Bakers weekly war re-
view today says, ''will possibly be their
greatest assault, but the British and
French armies can be relied upon to
withstand the shock"
Summarizing the situation on the
eve of a possible great offensive, Sec
retary Baker confidently pointed out
that through sixteen fierce battles of
great magnitude the British and French
steadily pushed ahead with methodical
and cumulative gains. The expected Of
fensive, he points out. probably is being
delayed for massing great supplies OF
munitions, guns and troops, and the
Germans may be expected to strain
every fiber of their remaining
strength
On the Italian front. the Secretary
points out, French successes have turn
ed the scale against the Austro-Ger-
man invaders, and the west bank of the
Piaye is being held firmly Hampered
by heavy snowfalls in the Alps, he
says, the invader now is confronted
with a tremendous handicap of main
=
.the advantage of holding hlsher
ground.
s-The period of adjustment, Secretary
Baker says, has passed. and IL may now
be expected that 1.-The French, British
and Italians, fighting side by side VIII
! be able to master the situation.
War Review in Detail.
The review. which this week makes
mo mention of American troops, follows:
Il six weeks have elapsed since the first
fumors reached us of the great thrust
I'm the west which the enemy then an
fHounced as imminent
TN order to concentrate large troop
masses. adequate artillery and ample
reserves of munitions, much time is
teQutred.
..Though the German higher COM
mand has so long delayed before be-
xinning operations. advices received
Seemingly confirm the information that
important actions are contemplated
Along the western front
ssThey may be counted upon to strain
every fiber of their remaining strength
In an endeavor to make their plans
succeed.
sIn considering the general military
situation on the eve of a possible Ger
man offensive, it must be recalled that
Through sixteen successive battles of
great magnitude in FlanSers the Brit
3eh have every time come out vic
forious and pushed steadily ahead
Their gains have been methodical and
cumulative.
'The Germans have during this long
series of major operations invariably
been forced to give way.
The French stood like a rock at Yer
dun and soon after drove forward vlgor-
( ously in the battle of the Somme, and
5 In turn played great part in the re-
peated drives in Flanders.
{ Germany's Greatest Drive Coming.
The impending German offensive will
possibly be their greatest assault. The
French and British armies can be relied
upon to Withstand the shock In the
west no important operations took
place during the past seven-day period.
THE entire front from the North sea
10 the Swiss border was very active
The Germans continued their widely
scattered thrusts, while the French and
s British parried with numerous recon-
nOffering raids and careful patrolling.
They remained on the qui vive, taking
note of every minor change in the Ger
man order of battle, keeping closely
iaformed of hostile troop movements
and concentrations.
Tn the Cambria area the enemy un-
sdertook an attack in force Here the
movement which had as it's immediate
objective the further narrowing down
Of the British salient, were able to PEN
citrate and hold temporarily certain
atttiSh tTcHCH SlcucHlS Souln Ul Mar
Going. This action was conducted with
great energy. The British Immediately
countered and were able to recapture a
part of their lost positions.
& Another hostile thrust was under
taken close to the Canal du Nord,
where the enemy scored local advan-
fAge. as he was able slightly to press
back the British.
Assaults Near Lens Repulsed.
Southeast of Lens the enemy made a
renewed attepst to reach the British
outposts, but this assault collapsed be-
fore any result could be attained, while
the British later in the week advanced
fhefr trenches in this area.
minor raids were carried on
Throughout the week by both the Brit
counters were also reported.
Intense artillery bonlbardments in
the Lens and Cambria sectors would
indicate that the enemy has selected
this terrain for a concentrated assault.
The French front remained relative
~ quiet. Severe cold prevailed. Spirit
Z ed artillery duels were reported in
Champagne and in the region of the
right bank of the Meuse.
Hostile infantry activity was noted
In the region east of St. Mihiel and near
st. Quentin, but the efforts to set in
motion an attack against the French
lines were in each case readily dis
persed.
Italians Able to Reorganize.
AFTER fighting on the defensive for
ten weeks, the Italians, firmly support