Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-20
GERMANS TRAINING
MEN FOR BIC DRIVE
ON LINE IN FRANCE
Secretary Baker, in Weekly Re
view, Reveals Power of the
Allied Front.
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
ny Associated Press to Every Evening

WAsHINGToN, FEB. 20.
After extensive preparations silently
and systematically carried on, IL is ap-
parent that both the Germans and tho
Allies are ready for the long expected Of
fensive in the west. Secretary Baker says
today in his review of military operations
for the week ending February l6.
"While there have been outwardly
no new developments in the military
situation IN the west during the period
under review, says the communique,
"yet il is apparent that both the enemy
and the Allies after extensive preparations,
which have been silently and systematic
ally carried on, are ready for battle Tho
Germans have recently withdrawn
number Of their veteran west front units
from the first line trenches and are busily
training them IN mobile warfare
According to advices received, the
German General staff hopes that BY
massing large number Of these picked
shock battalions, which have been in
tensiyely trained, they may deliver a
crushing blow
''The bulk of the German forces are
now assembled in the west, but large
number Of these units are wholly un-
trained in the method Of western front
warfare, which differs radically from that
conducted along other fronts. Further
more, the German higher command real
ICES fully that their forces VIII meet with
far more difficult tactical obstacles than
any hitherto encountered by an attack
ing army. A break through was possible
IN Russia only after the morale Of the
Russians bad been undermined; the same
/ was true IN Italy and we witnessed how
speedily the Italian line WAS mended.
During the week there has beeR-nueh
activity Of 4 minor character along
the entire western front.
As has already been announced, IN
Lorraine, a segment OF the line Is entirely
under the control of our forces. Along
our front, patrol encounters were numer-
Gus. The Germans undertook a RAID
against our positions and succeeded IN
infiicting a few casualties A small
American patrol, while scouting IN No
Man Land Was ambushed by the enemy
The weather was very rainy during the
first part OF the week and our troops were
busy manning the pumps IN an effort 10
keep their trenches dry Later clear
weather prevailed and hostile aircraft
made frequent fights TO reconnolter
positions \ marked Improvement In our
anti-arcraft barrage IS reported. Artillery
dueis took place and the Germans show
cred our lines with gas shells. which, how
ever caused no casualties owing TO ettl-
Gent gas mask protection.
AID IN FRENCH ATTACK.
I'm Champagne, units Of American
artillery participated in an engagement
undertaken by French forces. This
operation Was the most important Of the
week in the west After veEy careful
artillery preparation during which our
! batteries co-operated usefully, French
! infantry advanced to the assault south
/ west Of the Butte Du Mesni.. along a
/ front of / 400 yards The French. sue
| ceeding IN penetrating the German
/ positions, broke through the second and
i reached the third German line During
| this brisk attack the French destroyed
many enemy shelters, inflicted much
| damage TO enemy positions besides bring
| ing back 15O prisoners.
| 'Other successful raids were undertaken
| by French detachments IN the vicinity
! OF the Chemin-Des-D Danes, east of Rheims
| in upper AlSace and elsewhere In all
| the French drove forward twelve very
| fortunate reconnaissance 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
| Bezonyaux and in Alsacc However,
| seven German raids at various other
| points broke down. French artillery
| kept the enemy constantly engaged along
| a widely scattered area.
| The British front was also the scene
! of numerous minor engagements. No
| important actions took place and the
| enemy who was evidently busy with the
| grouping of units and dlspoSing fresh
/ forces recently arrived from other thea
/ tres, IN the front line, undertook only
! such reconnoltering engagements as 10
! familiarize the new units with the nature
! of the terrain In front of them.
In the Italian theatre the enemy has
| again assumed an aggressive attitude
/ The concentration of an important
body of German cavalry In the vicinity
Of Riga Is noted and it Is believed that
the Germans may 6nd it expedient to
/ advance on Petrograd. 1t Is difficult TO
/ determine the exact status of affairs in
| southwestern Russia. The Russian con-
/ tingents are eyacuating the Armenian
centers south Of the Black Sea, which are
being reoccupied by Turkish detach-
ments. Trebizond viii probably soon
fall into Turkish hands
1T is important TO record that large
contingents Of Arabs are joining the
forces of the Sheik of Mecca who is CO
operating with the British.
The Arabs have defeated the Turks
IN two encounters, occupied FL March
southeast of the Dead Sea, and are adj
| vancing along the Hedlaz railway towards
| Maan."