Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-19
German Major Offensive Is
Not Expected bY WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Neering
from it's constantly expressed view, the
war department today for the first time
indicated its belief, officially, that the
Germans do not contemplate a major
west front offensive this spring.
While hostile preparations for an Of
fensive in the west are not slackening,"
said today's weekly war summary, lit
is becoming more evident that the enc
my will launch this offensive only II
compelled to do so by the exeigencies of
the general strategic situation" "
Germanys concentration of troops on
the west line has now reached about
the limit apparently, according to the
statement Further increase in the
density of the lines would doubtless
clog communication and remove the es-
sential fexihility OF maneuver.
The statement also revealed that
American troops now occupy trenches
at FIVE different points. and that they
have been constantly in action"
The period of inactivity in the west
is being prolonged" said the statement
Though the raids now taking place
would in the past have been considered
important engagements, nevertheless,
owing to the fact that they are merely
Of minor tactical value, they cannot be
held to be major operations.
Concentration Completed
while fresh German divisions are
reported as arriving in the west, ii is
important to note that the density Of
enemy forces has nearly reached a point
beyond which it will be impracticable to
go, for should any large additional body
of men be massed, the chances are that
the congestion of the lines of commune
cation would become so great as 10 make
IL impossible to maintain the fiexibillty
of fnaneuVer, which is so essential" I,
Concerning American operations, The
summary added:
-Thfs week we undertook our first as
sault against German positions unas-
sisted by any allied contingent At
dawn on March II, after q preliminary
bombardment lasting three-quarters Of
an hour, we drove a highly successful
raid against a German trench segment
Our men penetrated the German line Il
a depth of 3oJ yards. The enemy was
driven off after a hand-to-hand night,
whereupon our contingent returned to
our lines At three places in Lorraine,
American troops acting in cooperation
with small French detachments raided
German trenches. Two of these opera
tions were carried out simultaneously,
each on a front of some 500 yards. Aft
er a prolonged bombardment the attack
ing units were able 10 reach their OBJ
iectives."
Shipping Increases
Shipping is on the increase. Our artil-
iery is very active" Frequent hostile
bombardments were noted against the
American sector near the Swiss border.
Secretary of War Baker. the sum
mary said, is about TO undertake an in
spection OF the sectors and a view Of
training camps and so on.
AS for the eastern situation, the sum-
mary said German capture of Odessa
will no doubt be of economic impCr-
lance to the enemy"
The western front, from the North
sea to the Aisne. was the scene Of mucn
HARD fighting.
THE Germans carried out a number
OF air raids against London and Paris.
Allied aviators raided German indus
trial centers of the Rhine region.
In the Italian theater, the arrival
OF more hostile units, and the concen-
tration of material coming from Germa-
ny is noted in the area east and west
OF the Lake of Garda, which would
point to hostile operations having We
roma and Broscia as their detectives.
In the eastern theater, the chief op-
erations of the week eliminated IN the
capture of Odessa. The occupation of