South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-04
MOMENTUM Of
BATTLE IN THE
WEST CROWS
SeC'y Bakers Reviews Warns
Period of Inactivity is Near
End-ImpOTtant Actions
Are impending.
international News Service:


WASHINGTON. March g. THE
momentum OF battle is increasing in
the western theater of war, Sec'y of
War Baker declared in his weekly
review Of the war, made public to-
day. He warns i'm plain language
that the quiet conditions of the past
three months have come 10 an end.
Here are some of his salient utter
ances.
Daring three months both bel
ligerent groups have been massing
their forces.
The allied war council is now in
continuous session, assuring com
piete unity and heMbility of con-
troll
The British have extended their
front.
Important Troop Movements.
"Our own forces have taken over
a sector northwest of Toul. In ad-
dition a number of our detached
units are in action in Champagne.
important troop movements took
place behind the German lines op-
pOsite our front
I'm spite of low visibility. hostile
air craft continued active and made
frequent ncursions over our lines"
The report refers TO the attacks
upon the American front as giving
"a good idea OF what is taking place
ON an even larger scale along the
entire western front Patrols are
very active, il says Continuing. the
report declares.
Enemy Attacks RpufIISPd
Early in the week the enemy
made two attempts 10 reach our
lines. but was driven off by machine
gun fire. On March 1. the enemy
developed "a sharply driven attack
After "a short struggle the hostile
detachment was repulsed The Ger
mans are now using gas along our
front our men are bect lning ac-
customed 90 this weapon our gas
masks are efficiently protective
our artillery was very busy Smelling
enemy positions and inflicted consid-
erable damage on gun and mortar
emplacements-"
The Chemil des Danes raid in
which American volunteers partici-
pated is only briefly referred TO as
.verv successfully carried through "
The French front has been COM
paratNelv quiet The attack on
Feb. "a near Aspach. Upper Alsace.
iS referred 10 as ga coup de main,
destroying hostile defensive works
and shelters"
Artillery Ducls Insistcnt.
Artillery duels are insistent and
intense iu the Nerdun salient and
Upper Als3ce.
Along the British front the Ger
mans have been alert with partially
successful raids iu the vicinity of
the Ypres- RouIers railway. I'm the
Passcheudaele and Cambria regions
an attacks have been driven Off
While the enemy Is continually
bringing up fresh units. OWNS to
transportation difficulties this has
been slow and lahorious process.
Bridge Attempt Fooled.
THE holdest enterprise under
taken by the enemy during the
week took place north of Dix
nude" continues the report Here
after prolonged artillery prepara-
tons. the enemy eudeavored %
throw a bridge across the User The
Belgiaus successfully prevented six
consecutive attempts 90 push this
operation TO successful conclusion
and the Germans were finally com
PEELED 90 abandon the undertaking
At the time the report was COM
pIetcd the ssian-Cierman peace
had not been concluded.
In conclusion the report SAYS
"Tn the Italian theatcr. the all
lies executed number Of minor
raids aIong the Piave. The enemy
confined his activity to increasing
bombardments west of the Asiago
plateau. Tn the region of Val lar
earina and Lake of Garda hostile
preparations were particularly mo-
ticeable.
-The enemy is continuing the
bombardmeut Of the cities of Ven
eta by aircraft Repeated attacks
were made against Venice. and
much damage was inflicted upon
churches and other buildings dur
ing these raids.
DEpIC ATE ~" BUILDING.
ANTfrRGnN Ind March Efve