Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-22
FOE TO STRIKE AGAIN,
WESTINGHOUSE VIEW
Baker Sees Greater Channel
Thrust if Barren Results
Continue
u. S. ACTIVITY INCREASES
American Prisoners Kill Captors
and Escape to Own
Trenches
Washington. April -.


War department stratcgists forescc
another Germon thrust at the Allied
lines more powerful than those that have
gone before If tho present drive at tho
channel ports fails. The departments
weekly review says the cnemy's enor-
nous sacrifices have been barren Of pri-
mary results. but adds:
Looked at from broad standpoint Of
the general military situation i'm the
west, 1t cannot. however, be held that
tho battle now raging in this salient is
the final nor even the most determined
onslaught Of the enemy.
"Thcrc are indications that should the
offensive here also fail to lead to some
definite result the enemy may undertake
further and even more powerful
thrust"
Tho review tells Of increased activity
along the sectors held by American
troops and disCloscs that recently
number Of Americans who had been cap
turcd and were being conducted through
No Mans Land to the German lines
turned upon their captors, escaped and
made their way back 10 their own
trenches. No details Of the incident are
given.
I'm what has hitherto been held the
principal scene of operations the salient
stretching from north Of Arras to south
of the Disc Canal, with its apex in front
Of Amicns" says the review, there
has been no important change during the
week in the positions Of the oontcnding
forces.
Amiens Objective not Abandoned
"An apparent slackcning of hostile
pressure north and south of the Somme
is recorded. though it would be prema-
turc to assert that the Amiens objective
has been abandoned.
In the new salient formed by the
pressing back Of the British between
/ McrlSem and the La BasSce Canal deS-
, pcrate fighting continued throughout the
week Here the enemy was able To WIN
/ terrain Of distinct tactical value ana DE
occupyiug part Of tho MesSincs ridge cN-
ortcd such Il threat upon the British
/ rorccs in the old Npres salient, posted
beyond Passchcudaclc and tho Npres-
Meuiu road, as to force their withdrawn
along q line running east Of NpreS. mus
straiChtCning out tho irreguldrllY OF Al
lied dispositions in this area.
| "With the combat situation Stll IN
nuX II can serve no purpose 10 ulS'uSS
i'm detail the tactical phases OF the op-
erations taking place.
"Wulverghcm, Ncuve Egliso, Metercn
and the area stretching to the Iys were
the scenes of some of the bloodiest en-
counters of the war. Here the BRUSH
have been pressed back only locally ana
tho various tactical obJcctives nave
changed hands rapidly.
,The fighting in the area centerlnG
around Mount KENNEL continues Wlll
increasing Intensity. This Key posltloh
romains i'm British hands, though the
enemy gained a foothold along its south
ern SLOPES The British, with French
suppdrt which has arrived, are consoll-
dating their positions and holding wei.
Sacrifice Barren OF Results
"Tho Germans have been able to gam
a local advantage in Flanders, yet, sur%
yeving the combat situation as "hole'
III can he stated that their enormous sac
rifccs and heaped-up casualties nave
bitheto been barren Of primary results
"The enemy. while pushing with Nigor
toward the channel ports and increas-
! ing his pressure to a maximum, mas oeeH
unable to force even strategic rstn S!.
ment upon the Allies, much less u'So'
ganize their order of battle.
Unity of command has materia'lS y
facilitated strategic problems WIN WHICH
) the Allies are now confronted
.'The official selection OF Genera
F'och as commander-in-chief Of the Allleo
armies means that he now has strategic
! control of the belligerent strength OF Al
: of the Allies in the west and VIII d.
/ able TO dispose of all of their forces 50
/: as 10 secure maximum economy ah'
} efficiency in their use