The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-19
BIG OFFENSIVE
I ON WEST FRONT !.
EXPECTE:DS00N
Tanks and New Mysterious Cas-
It Is Rumored Will b
Utilized I'll
DISCARD THE OLD METHODS
Allied Morale at Highest, Pitch
and Confident Of rnA
Victory y
THE OLD METHODS

British Army Headquarters IN
France, Feb. 19-The great German
offensive on the western front may 9e
expected to begin at any moment now
as far as the British front Is concSFn.
ed, and the main thrust will be made
on the sector between Arras and St.
Quentin. NJ
Tanks and new mysterious gas"
will be employed b ythe enemy In the
attempt to break through the allies
line. Other attacks will be delivered
further south. These facts have be-
come known through captured Ger.
man prisoners.
The plans of the German higher
command are complete and after
many weeks of intensive training OF
assaulting troops, they are ready to
make the supreme and final effort.
which has been advertised 20 widely
In the last few weeks.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
General Won Ludendorf appear TO
have realized that the old methods Of
attack In which long bombardment
is employed, are too we'll known 70
procure the results desired. Accord
ingly the German troops are being
told that surprise attacks such 'as
were used in Galacfa, last summe O.. ct
Riga, and again on the Isonzo, are TO
be tried against the allies on the west
ern front "a $,,,s..
TANKS AND GAS. fsf ss
Much stress has been laid on the
fact that tanks and new gas are: 10 H0e
used, leaving the infantry little to
do, but to walk through the gaps ana
consolidate the positions captured.
Those obstacles which the German ~
tillery fire has not ,obliterated Will 10
rushed blythe troops or ignofeds :l'
Word has been passed out by the
German high command that few Of
the allied troops will survive the ct
fects of the tanks, the gas and the
bombardment and that fresh German
infantry will overcome speedily any
resistance offered in captured POSI-.
tiOns. (, t2 ...''u
Despite these assurances, sthe Ger.
man troops are frankly skeptfcal and
are undertaking their tasks with no
enthusiasm, according to prisoners.
They feel they are going to be thrown
into battle to be used as cannon fod'
der and do not relish the prospects.
1t is said General Won Ludendorf
recently addressed body OF infan.
try at Laon, and asked how many
were willing to fight to finish. Only
five non-c on-commissioned officers and
privates stepped forward. The 9th.
ers declared their desire for an early
peace by arrangement
At Highest Pitch.
The Germans will find the allied
morale at the highest pitch on the
western front, and their attack Will
be far from the surprise desired. the
allies are ready for q big blow, and
await with assurance the next move
of the German high command. Tho
German attack cannot be delayed
much longer. the coming battles will
perhaps be the most sanguinary Of the
war, and they will be the most In
tense yet seen. But they will mark
the beginning Of :Ae end, for II the
Germans do not break clear through
the allied lines-and they cannot
they virtually will be finished. The
emperor is putting every ounce OF
strength into this great gamble and
il it fails in the early stages 1t means
the end of Prussian militartsm. The
allied forces have superiority IN
numbers. both in men and guns. ana
no doubt is felt on this front as to
the outcome. IS