Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-01
Offensive Wrested
81 From Austro- German;

From Austtro-G Germans
Continued from Page y
cossacks are pursuing the %retreFting
BAKER OPTIMISTIC IN
WEEKLY WARIREEIEW.
Washington. Ian. l.-Whlt the
Of the new year finds at the
battle fronts Is outlined by Secretary
In his weekly review Of military
issued last night. In the
west, he ssays, the British dominate
the Flanders plain with a great wedge
Tense at Cambrai.N while the French,
with their own lines unbroken, hold
the key to the sLaon area, through the
capture Of Chemin-des-damcs.
Italy. supported by the Allies, lis
holding firm while the enemy after
inavain Tor. six weeks. against
the defenders, Is Preparing for are
newed Offensive
OfYRussia. the review merely says
the Germans are endeayoring ITO per-
suade that country thatsthey are eager
lions and-sthat the German embassy
building at Petrograd is being made
ready7for occupancy.
PRESENCE OF AMERICANS
TEARTENS THE ALLIES. MI.
:, While the operation of. American
the front has been Confined
to narrow limits. the secretary says,
their presence. has hearteneds the AL
lies and increased faith in final vic
tory. .&s !, NJ
81, follows In part: >
The military situation. at the be-
ginning of the New Year is as follows:
~ in the west, the British in the
Ypres salient occupy the high ground
OF the Passchendae1e ridge and DOM
mate the Flanders plain.
Their wedge In front oftCambrai,
though blunt, has ripped a great gap
IN the principal German line of de-
Tense. sss,
The batt<y for Cambria proved that
the German defensive positions could
vantage we not taken Of the early
successesssgained ny the British, sney-
.ertheless the disaster to German arms
in this/,battle was thesmost serious
since the Marine.
The French. by the capture OF the
Chemin -deH-damFs, have secured the
key tothe'Laon area. Their own line
OF defense remains unshaken.. - I,
"Detachnoents of our own forces
have engaged the enemy. while their
operations have been confined to n4r-
and the presence of the American
troops ,insthe firing line has heartened
the Allies to continue %the struggle
with Increased faith inNfnalS victory.
During the period under review,
the combat -situation remained un-
REP : >KEcE1vEp OF
HOSTILE CONCENTRATIONS.
Reports OF the concentration tf
hostile troop masses in the west con-
.tinue to b~esreeeiyed.s
"As far Ne military operations In
the west are concerned, no events Of
more than minor importance are re-
ported. The Germans have been re-
their forces. e
rIn the italian theater. the enemy
|is continuing his persistent offensive
Operations in the mountain area.
The Italians haveN hitherto. held
firm and reaped the advant4geTof the
~successes gained last week when they
|captugeh d raluable strategic terrain
in theSsNicthttN of the Monte Asolone.
l.TheAsslkkdstro Germans operating in
the region OF the Monte Asolone have
beenv busy Yrreadjustiitg their tactical
and making further prep
aratfons for a renewed offensive.
1.-THE Austro- Hungarian genera
staff seems to fear that Without full
German support, 1t would hotbe a dff4
f1cult problem for the Italians. strong
[ly reinforced by French and British
division, to turn the tables on their
invaders. 81.
w are entering. upon the
third mont6s6fS the battle for the. mas
terry of VeffetiA. Since November the
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