The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-04
BIG PUSH IN
FIRST STAGES
BAKER SAYS:
HUNS ACTIVE
War Departments Weekly
Review Sees Signs of Vast
Preparations of Germans
on The Western Front.
AMERICANS ARE BUSY

| WASHINGTON, March 4.-Contiu
ned preparatory movements on the
part of the Germans along the western
front are noted today by the war de.
partment in its review of the military
J situation for the week ending March
End.
"The momentum of battle is increas
| ing" the statement declares, cftfna
three attempts of the enemy to reach
the lines held by American troops an
an example of what is taking place
ION larger scale on the entire west.
ern front"
The definite announcement is made
that American forces have taken over
sector northwest OF Toul and that
| number of detached units are in 40.
| tion in the Champagne.
Operations In the eastern sector arS
expected to affect events in France.
through a modification OF German
plans, the review intimates Six Teu
ton columns are operating in Russis
/ and to only one Of these-the column
| moving toward Vitebek-is any Cd.
position noted.
Turks Continue Massacres.
Turkish forces advancing in the
Caucasus are meeting with little re-
slstance and are massacreing Armen.
ian residents of the districts retaken
from the Russians.
The review follows:
"The third month of relative ouL
essence on the western front has come
to close. During this period both
bell1gerent groups have been mass
ing their forces.
There is evidence that the enemy
continue to bring up fresh units Ow-
ing to transportation difficulties this
has been slow and labor1ous process.
The allied war council is now in
continuous session. assuring complete
unity and 1exibility of control.
THE British have extended their
front
Our own forces have taken over a
sector northwest of Toul In addition,
number of our detached units are
in action in Champagne and the mo-
mentum of battle is increasing
Gas Masks Efficient
I'VE have but to note the occur.
rences of the past week in our own
sector in Lorraine in order to gain an
idea of what is taking place. Patrols
nave been very active. Early In the
week the enemy made two attempts
to reach our lines, but was driven OF
by machine gun fire. On March the
enemy developed a sharply driven at
tack. After a short struggle the hos
tile detachment was repulsed.
The Germans are now using gas
along our front Our men are Decom-
ing accustomed to this weapon.
Our gas masks are efficiently pro-
tective. Our artillery was very busy
shelling enemy dispositions and in
flicted considerable damage on gun
and mortar emplacements
important troop movements took
place behind the German lines oppos-
ite our front
TN spite of the low visibility. hostile
aircraft continued active and made
frequent incursions over our lines.
"In the region Of the Chemin des
Danes lively encounters took place.
French raid against the German out.
posts, in which a number Of vclun-
teers participated, was very success.
fully carried through
"On February "a the French execut-
ed coup de main, destroying hostile
defensive works and shelters near As
pach in Upper Alsace. Small raids in
Champagne and Lorraine were also
recorded. The enemy also were driv-
en- back while attempting to react in
the vicinity of the Butte du Mesnfl
and the Chemin des Danes.
The boldest enterprise undertaken
by the enemy during the week took
place north of Dixmude Here after
prolonged artillery preparations the
enemy endeavored to throw a bridge
across the User. The Belgians sue
cessfully prevented six consecutive at
tempts to press the operation to sue
cessful execution.