Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-08
Secretary of War Has In.
formation That Huns
Plan Big Drive.
.MITISH AND FRENCH
READY TO MEET 1T
Baker Predicts Germany 10 Preparing
For Greatest Effort Of Entirs War--
Taking Time to Mass Troops. Guns
and Equipment - Allies Wstehlrs
Every Move and Prepared to Resist
at Any Point.

Washington. Jan. s.--The expected
German offensive in the west. says Sec
retary Of War Baker In his weekly re-
view OF the war. probably will be the
greatest assault OF the entire war. He
says. however, that the British and
French are prepared to meet the cmer-A
gency. The secretary's review for the
week ending Jan. 3. asys:
Summarizing the situation on the
eve Of possible great offensive Secre-
tary Baker points out that thru six
teen battles OF great magnitude the
British and French have pushed ahead.
The expected offensive. he points out,
possibly is delayed for massing OF
great supplies OF munitions. guns and
troops. and the Germans may be ex-
pected to strain every flber OF their
remaining strength"
italian Situation Satisfactory.
On the Italian front. the secretary
says. the French successes have turned
the scale against the Austro- German
invaders and the west bank OF tho
Piava is being held firmly.
Hampered by heavy snow falls in the
Alps, he says. the invaders now are
confronted with the great handicap Of
maintaining transport.
Tbe period OF adjustment. the secre-
tary >ys, has passed. and 1t may now
be expected that the French, British
and Italians, fighting sidc by aide, ul1l
he able to- master the situation.
The review makes no mention 0t
American troops.
six weeks have elapsed since tho
first rurnors reached us OF the great
thrust In the west. In order to corcen-
trate large troop masses. artillery and
equipment. much time is required. Tho
the German higher command has 20
long delayed before beginning opera
tions, advices received seemingly con-
firm information that important ac-
tons are contemplated along the west
crn front.
Ready TO Meet Assault.
TN considering the general military
situation on the eve OF possible Ger
man offensive, 1t must be recalled that
thru sixteen successive battles N
Flanders the British have every timo
come out victorious and pushed stead
lily ahead. The Germans. during the
long period of major operations invar-
iably have been forced to give way.
The impending German offensive
will possibly be their greatest assault.
The French and British armies can be
relied upon to stand the shock.
I'm the west no operation took place
in the last seven days. The Germans
continued their widely scattered
thrusts while the French and British
remained on the qui rive. taking notes
Of every minor change OF battle. keep
Ing closely informed OF troop move
ments and concentrations. In the CAM
brai sector the enemy undertook .
turning movement in force, resulting in
the further .narroying OF the British
salient.
minor raids were carried on thru
out the week by both the British and
Germans, The French front remains
relatively quiet. Severe cold prevails.
Spirited artillery duels are reported in
the Champagne and near Verdun.
After fighting on the defensive for
ten weeks the Italians. supported by
French and British, have been able to
reorganize their forces In the field, to-
take the offensive at two points. Near
ly 1.400 Austrian prisoners were cap-
tured in these operations"