New-York tribune., 1918-03-11
Invasion Of Russia Fails TO
Shift Centre, Says
Review
u. S. Troops Now
At Four oints
They Hold Four and One.
Half Mile Line at
One Place

Dy lHe w ar departments weekly Mill
tary review tonight as another futile
attempt on the part of the Germans to
shift the centre of gravity of the war,
which still remains on the West front,
where the Teutons face the French.
British, Italian and Belgian armies and
the ever-growing American forces.
There, the review says, lie the key po-
sitions of the war.
American troops now occupy trenches
at four separate points and, as was re-
Gently disclosed, in the principal sector
their front is four and half miles
long. They have been constantly en-
gagged, the department says, and the
scope of their activities is being con-
stantly extended.
Nothing is found in the situation by
the department to indicate that the
Germans have abandoned their plans
for great offensive in the West, and
it says the Allies, while assuming an
alert defensive. are content to let the
enemy break himself against their i'm
pregnable line.
Foe Loses 2I3 Aircraft
Intense air activities during the week
are noted, with the statement that 214
enemy aircraft were brought down on
the Western front alone. while the
Allies lost only eighty-eight machines
on all fronts during the same period.
The enemy loss on all fronts is placed
at 273.
The review. in part, follows:
"In snitc of the fact that 100, 900
square miles of Russian territory have
been invaded during the past three
weeks and the enemy now is sweeping
forward in the heart of Russia and has
reached point within seventy miles
of the capital, nevertheless the centre
of gravity of the war remains IN the
West
"The Germans have for the last three
and a half years done all in their power
to upset the centre of gravity and shift
it eastward. This explains the sue
cessive blows struck in Russia and later
in the Italian theatre.
Notwithstanding the diversions OF
the minor campaigns III Mesopotamla
Palestine and the Balkan front. the
kew positions of the war are France
and Flanders.
Here the strategic situation re-
mains relatively constant.
Germans Redistribute Forces
"rhe enemy is completing the re-
distribution of available forces.
:. < 3..aThere are some new units flowing
into-fthe lines in the nature of re
placements
"Nothing in the situation should
lead us to estimate that the Germans
have abandoned their plans Of a major
offensive in the West.
"Considering tactical dispositions,
we note that the enemy has developed
two principal axes of activity, the one
pivoting on Rheims, the other in Al
SAGE in front of Lunevllle.
"The Allies, while assuming an alert
defensive, are resting content with
allowing the enemy to break the
strength of his assaults against theii
impregnable line.
s.The morale of the French and
British forces has never been better.
They are keenly anxious to give bat
tie to the enemy, confident OF their
superiority.
"Our own forces have been constant
w engaged The scope of their ac-
tivities is being daily extended. The
number Of our detachments IN the llne
is increasing. We now have troops IN
the trenches at four separate points.
AT Dawn OH MaICn y tHc SiitItJ a.
tempted q strong raid against one OF
cur advance posts further south. This
thrust was repulsed with loss to the
enemy. Our casualties were slight and
no prisoners or missing were reported.
The French general commanding this
sector congratulated our commander on
the splendid manner IN which our
troops repulsed the assailing columns.
Hold Four and Half Miles
ave now hold four and half miles
Of the battle front in our principal
sector.
"On March II the enemy, making use
Of LIQUID fire, advanced to the assault
against our trenches. This is the first
time this weapon has been tried out
against our men. The assaultlng
column was repulsed and the Germans
we're compelled to abandon the flame
|. Throwing apparatus, which was capt
ured ana later brought into our lines.
During this attack the liquid fire
reached trench segment which CON
tanned none Of our men, and little dam
age was inflicted.
"Our own patrols arc continuously
out on scouting missions, keeping in
/ close contact with the enemy.
"In our Toul sectors the Germans are
carrying or extensive preparations, con
tinuing to bring up fresh units and ac-
( cumulating material, apparently with a
view to undertaking more extensive op-
/ cratiOns.
During .he period under review tho
j French aionH Their front have remained
: relatively inactive. However, they car
ried out very successful surprise at
tacl, cast Of the Meusc against the en-
+ cmy positions in the Calonne trenches
: French units drove the Germans from
( positions where they had recently
gained a footnold in the vicinity OF
Fort Pompellc, southeast Of Rheims.
Twenty Raids by Germans
During the past seven day period
the Germans conducted no less than
twenty hard-driven raids along ,he
French front. The greater part OF
! these were repulsed without difficulty
though the enemy was able TO capture
some 400 prisoners west Of the Meuse
early IN the week. as we'll az retake
part OF The trenches in the region OF
the Butte du Mesnil, which the French
had captured in February.
"Along the British front the British
continue TO hold the initiative and
drove forward a series OF successful
minor raids along the Yprcs salient
/ as Well MS at many points southwark
1.-THE Germans made raids into tho
British lines at large number Of
points
Along the whole sector the hostile
raiding 's increasing. and during two
HuccrRAiYs niVnts ne German. ur,ln,