Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-20
TEUTONS PLAN
CRUSHING BLOW
[oontinued from First Page.1
trenches and are busily training
them ir mobile warfare.
Would Deliver Crushiuo RIoxy

Ou DeifNcr SruSnIng Blow
according to advices received,
the German general staff hopes that
oy masslng large number of. these
picked shock battalions, which have
been lntensively 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 unframed in the method of
estern front warfare which differs
.aulcally from that conducted along
other fronts. Furthermore, the Ger
man higher command realizes that
tnelr forces will meet with far more
G!I1cult tactical obstacles than any
hltherto encountered by an attack
u 3 army. "A break through was pos
slple IN Russia only after the morale
oL tne russians had been undermine
eu' tne same was true in Italy, and
we witnessed how speedily the Ital-
ian line was mended.
During the week there has been
much activity of a minor character
along the entire western front.
L. S. Takes Line
AS has already been announced.
IN Lorraine segment of the line is
entirely under the control of our
iorces. Along our front, patrol en-
counters We're numerous. The Ger
mans undertook q raid against our
positions and succeeded in inflicting
lew casualties. A small American
Pdtrol' WhlIe scouting in No Mans
Land was ambushed by the enemy.
me weather was very rainy dur
ing the first part of the week and
our troops were busy manning the
pumps in an effort to keep their
trehches dry. Later clear weather
prevailed and hostile aircraft made
frequent fights to reconnoiter our
POSITIONS. Marked improvement in
our antiaircraft barrage is respon-
sible. Artillery duels took place and
the Germans showered our lines with
gas shells, which. however. caused
no casualties owing to efficient gas
mask protection.
Americans in ChamDapne
In champagne, units of Ameri-
can artillery participated in an en-
Sagement undertaken by French
forces. This operation was the most
important of the week in the west.
AFTER very careful artillery prepara-
ton during which our batteries CO.
operated usefully, French infantry
advanced TO the assault southwest of
the Butte Du MeSnil, along a front of
about 1,4OO yards. The French, sue
ceeding in penetrating the German
positions. broke through the second
and reached the third German line.
During this brisk attack the French
destroyed many enemy shelters. in
flicted much damage to enemy posi-
tons besides bringing hack $50 pits
oners.
"Other successful raids were m
dertaken by French detachments in
the vicinity of the Chemin des
Danes, east of Rheims, in Upper AL
SAGE 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 Bezonvaux and in AL
SAGE. However, seven German raids
at various other points broke down.
French artillery kept the enemy con-
stantly engaged along a widely scat
tered area.
Many Minor Engagements
THE British front was also the
scene of numerous minor engage
ments. No important actions took
place and the enemy, who was evil
IDENTIFY busy with the grouping of
units and disposing fresh forces re-
Gently arrived from other theaters.
in the front line, undertook only
such accommodating engagements as
to familiarize the new units with the
nature of the terrain in front of
them.
I'm the Italian theater the enemy
has again assumed an aggressive at
titude.
THE concentration of an import
ant body of German cavalry in the
vicinity of Riga is noted and IL Is
believed that the Germans may find
1t expedient to advance on Petro-
grad. 1t is difficult to determine the
exact status of affairs in Southwest
ern Russia. The Russian contingents
are evacuating the Armenian centers
south of the Black Sea, which are
being reoccupied by Turkish detach-
ments. Trebizond will probably soon
fall into Turkish hands.
1T is important to record that