The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-21
Secretary of War Bakers
Weekly Communique an
Interesting Paper.
MUCH ACTIVITY
MINOR CHARACTER
Enemy and Allies Wait for
Beginning of Expected
Big Battle.

Washington, Feb. 20.--After extern
sive preparations silently and system
atically carried on, ii is apparent
hat both the Germans ard the Allies
are ready for the long expected Of
fensive in the west, says Secretary
Baker today in his review of military
operations for the week ending Feb
ruary 18th.
While there have been outwardly
no new Developments in the military
situation in the west. during the period
under review" says the secretary ;
communique ''yet it is apparent that
both the enemy and the allies, after
the extensive preparations which have
been silently and Systematically car
ried on, are ready for battle The
Germans have recently withdrawn a
number of their veteran west frort
units from the first line trenches AM
are busily training them in mobile
warfare.
According to advices received. the
German general staff hopes that by
massing a large number of these
picked shock battalions which have
been intensively trained, they may de-
liver crishing blow.
The bulk of the German forces
are now assembled in the west. But
a large numbes of these units are
wholly unframed in the method of
Western front warfare which differs
radically from that conducted along
ether fronts. Furthermore, the Ger
man higher command realizes fully
thar their forces will meet with far
more difficult tactical obstacles than
any hitherto encountered by an att
tacking army. A break through was
possible in Russia only after the
morale or the Russians had been un +.
der1nined; the same was true in Italy
and we witnessed how speedy the
Italian line 5 mended.
During the week there has been
much activity of minor character +
along the entire Western front.
LAS has already been announced, II
Lorraine, segment of the line is en-
tirely under the control Of our forces
Along out front, potroi encounters are
numerous. The Germans undertook a
raid against our positions and sue
ceeded in infiicting a few casualtie5
In a small American patrol while
scouting in No Mans Land was am
bushed by the enemy.
"The weather was very rainy dur
ing the first part of the week and our
troops were busy manning the pumps
in an effort to keep their trenches dr..
Later. clear weather prevailed and
hostile aircraft made frequent flights
to reconnoiter our positions A marked
Improvement in our anti aircraft bar
range is reported. Artillery duels took
place and the Germans shcwered ou:
lines with gas shells which, however,
caused no casualties, owing to tie
efficient gas masks.
IN Champagne. units Of American
artillery participated in an engage
ment undertaken by French forces.
This operation was the most import
ant of the week in the west After
very careful artillery preparation, dur
ing which our batteries cooperated
usefully. French infantry and ad
vanced to the assault southwest Of the
Butte du MFesnil, along a front ot
about 1.40O yards. The French sue
cee@ing in penetrating the German po-
sitions, broke through the second and
reached the third German line. Dur
ing this brisk attack the French dc
ytroyed many enemy shelters, inflic'-
ed much damage to enemy positions,
besides bringing back $50 prisoners.
"Other successful raids were un-
dertaken by French detachments in
the vicinity OF the Chemin des DANES.
east of Rheims, in upper Aysace and
elsewhere In all the French drove
forward IL very fortunate reConnais-
sance undertakings along different
parts of the line.
German units were also active.
Their attempts to reach the French
lines were temporarily successful IN
the vicinity OF Bezonvaux and in
Alsace. However. seven German raids
at various other points broke down
French artillery kept the enemy con-
stantly engaged along a widely scat
tered area.
''The British front also was the
scene of numerous minor engagements.
No important actions took place, and
the enemy, who was evidently busy
with the grouping Of units and undis-
posing fresh forces recently arrived
from other theatres. in the front line
undertook only such accommodating