New Britain herald., 1918-03-18

Washington, March 1S.-Germany' threat of a great spring offensive on the western front no longer lmpreSSeS American military men.
 In its weekly review today, the War department records the conclusion that the enemy, in spite of his past prep aratiOns. will not take the offensive until forced into it. This confirms the opinion many officers have expressed for weeks in the fact of official fore casts to the contrary from both sides of the Atlantic.
 ''While hostile preparations for an offensive in the west are not slacken- ing, it is becoming more evident that the enemy will launch the offensive only if compelled to do so by the eHi- gencies of the general strategic situ atiOn,' says the statement.
 The nature of the information on which the opinion is based is not dis closed, It is noticed fresh divisions have arrived on the western front. and the German lines are said to be approaching the point in density be- yond which it will be impossible 10 go without choking the lines and ! hampering the free movement of re- serves. Apparently this concentration regarded as a uGIGDSlNG AOL d1i offensive movement.
 Much Of the statement is devoted to the activities of the American troops now engaged on five fronts, one of the sectors lying close to the Swiss border. The official statement, however adds nothing to recently published press re- ports of the raids and trench fighting in which the Americans have been involved.
 Teutons Mass on Italian Front.
 Elsewhere on the western front the experts find no evidence of any major military operations by either side. Tho period of activity, the statement says, Is being prolonged It notes however, indications of Austro-German concen- trations in the Italian theatre which forecast assaults on Verona or Brescia as their objectives.
 The statement follows:
 The period of inactivity in the west , is being prolonged. Though the raids now taking place would in the past have been considered important en- agreements, owing to the fact that they are merely of tactical value, they can not be held to be major operations.
 While hostile preparations for an offensive in the west are not slacken- ing, it is becoming evident that the enemy will launch this offensive only when compelled to do so by the eXi- gencies of the general strategic situ- ation.
 While fresh German divisions are reported as arriving in the west, it is important to notice the density of the enemy forces has reached a limit be- yond which it will be impracticab1e to go, for such additional large bodies of troops would hamper movement Of other forces on their line of com munication and will become so great as to make it impossible to maintain the fleXibility of maneuvers.
 "Our own forces n France have been constantly in action. Our troops are now in the trenches at five different points This week we undertook our first assault against German positions unassisted by any Allied contingent.
 Raid on March Ii.
 At dawn on March Il after a pre- ]iminary bombardment lasting three quarters of an hour, We drove highly successful raid against German trench segment. Our men penetrated the German line to a depth of 300 yards The enemy was driven off aft CT a hand to- hand fight, Whereupon our contingent returned to our lines.
 AL three places III Lol edliAe' <Ah4hNi jean troops, in cooperation with small French attachments, raided German trenches. Two of these operations were carried out at the same time, each on a frontage of some 600 yards. After Q prolonged bombardment the attacking units were able to reach their Objectives. Few of the enemy were found in the first line trenches and the attackers swept forward into the German second line. Our men re- mained for nearly an hour in the Ger man positions and retired after inf1iot- ing much damage and capturing quan- titles of material.
 There has been Q decided increase ir anipin- owing to more favorable , r-ySea tner.
 ''Nv, kept up Q vigorous attack in areas opposite our Foul sector.
 (Cgn+fnuC1 On Tenth FaEc).