Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-25
ALLIES SC0UR WEST
FRONT FOR KAlSER'S
LOST DIVISIONS"
British and French Know
Location of Every German
Unit Except Score of d.
visions - Their Where
abouts May be Key to
Foes Drive Plans.
Especial Staff Dispatch.)

Washington, d. c., Feb. 25.-
Where are Germany's "Lost Di-
visions?"
That is the big puzzle on which the
whole effort of the French and Eng
lish intelligence Offices is centered to-
day.
That is the puzzle on which allied
aviators are busy. And it is the an
swer to hat puzzle that British and
French and American soldiers have
sought for the past two weeks in
every trench raid and reconnaissance
they have carried out.
The allies now Germany is plan
ming a Tremendous offensive on the
western front.
Through the activity of their intel
ligence divisions, the aero scouts and
trench raiders, the allies know the
location of every unit of the kaiser's
great army with the exception of ap-
proximately a score of divisions.
Those are the Lost Divisions" that
the allies seek, the finding of which
might unlock the whole secret Of
>Germany's point of attack.
Allied experts agree that there has
been nc battle in this war in which
the results could not have been
changed by the bringing into action
of a dozen unexpected divisions. That
is why it is so necessary for the allies
to know, before Germany strikes, just
where these lost divisions will be
brought into action.
Extreme massing of men and ma
terials at Zeebrugge INC along a front
Of 20 miles in Flanders, where the
lines begin, n information secured
from prisoners, indicate that the big
attempt is to be made there, with
Calais as the immediate objective.
The capture of Calais would put
into German hands the French port
through which the bulk of Britain's
men and materials move into France
Tremendous terminals and port ia.
cilities nave been developed there.
With Calais held by the enemy
England's whole system Of supply
would be disrupted, her line of com
m%unication cut.
To send men and supplies into
France through any other port, Eng
land not only would nave to carr!
them four or five times as far b.
water, but would be hampered b!
terminal and transport ditticultie
when she got them there. Calais los
would be a serious blow.
OF course, steps hav been takel
by the allied commanders to meet tn,
expected onslaught. Men and ma
terials have been concentrated a
the points where concentration indi
Gates increased pressure may b
brought.
But the big question still remains
"Just where will the drive develop ?
When the Lost Divisions are found
that question will be answered.
Although increasingly strong at
tempts may be expected against tn
sector where American troops ar
taking their turns in the trenches
that will not be the point at which tn
big drive will come.
1t is too far from the main objec
tives Of the German general staff-no
of sufficient importance.
For this big blow, which even Ger
many recognizes as possibly her las
is to be struck at the heart OF the al
lied defense at Calais and the BIRTHS
line Of communication, OF at a poir
further east, where the Germans be
lieve they nay be able to force ope
a gateway to Paris"
Meanwhile, while awaiting tn
much-heralded German drive an
taking steps to meet 1t, the allies ar
pushing plans for an offensive Of the
own with Berlin as the ultimate OF
jective.
IF the allies a just hold till Ma
or June" General Pershing has salt
"the German line can be broker
Germany can be beaten, German
must be beaten, and Germany will b
beaten"