Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-19
NOT READY FOR CLASH.

NOT READY FOR CLASH.
This confirms the opinion many OF.
fcers have expressed for weeks in the
face of official forecasts to the con.
trary from both sides of the Atlantic.
While hostile preparations for an
offensive in the west are not slacken-
ing" the review says, 1T is becoming
more evident that the enemy will
launch the offensive only if compelled
to do so by the exigencies of the gen.
eral strategic situation"
The nature of the information upon
which the opinion is based is not dis
closed. 1t is noted that fresh German
divisions have arrived on the western
front and the German lines are said
to be approaching the point in density
beyond which it would be impossible
to 60 without choking communication
lines and hampering free movement of
reserves.
Apparently, however, this conclu-
sion has come to be regarded as de-
fenSive, not all offensive movement.
Much of the statement is devoted
to the activities of American troops
now engaged on five separate fronts,
one of the sectors lying close to the
Swiss border. The official commun-
ique, however, adds nothing to recent
ly published reports of the raids and
trench fighting in which the Ameri-
cans have been involved.
May Attack In Italy.
Elsewhere on the western front the
experts find no evidence Of impending
major activities by either side. The
period of inactivity, the statement
says, is beng prolonged. 1t notes,
however, indications of Austro-Ger.
man concentrations in the Italian
theater, which may forecast assaults
on Verona or Brescia as their OBJ,
jectives. 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
engagements, nevertheless, owice tc
the fact that they are merely Of minor
tactical value, they cannot be held to
be major operations.
while hostile preparations for ar
offensive in the west are not slacken.
ing, it is becoming more evident that
the enemy will launch this offensive
only if compelled TO do so by tho
exigencies of the general strategic
| situation.
Sammies on Five Fronts.
while fresh German divisions are
reported as arriving in the west, II !:
important to note that the density OF
the enemy forces has nearly reA .hee
point beyond which it will be i'm,
practicable to go, for shouli any
large additional body of men be
massed, the chances are that the con.
gestion of the lines of communication
viii become so great as TO make il
impossible to maintain the fiex'b ;lity
of maneuver which is so essential
"Oun own forces in France hgve
been constantly in action.
"Ou troops are now in the
trenches at five different points.
This week we undertook our FIRST
assault against German positions un.
assisted by any allied contingent
AT dawn, March II. after a pre-.
llmnary bombardment lasting three.
quarters of an hour, we drove a high
ly successful raid against a German
trench segment Our men penetrated
the German line to a depth of 800
yards. The enemy was drive. off
after a hand TO hand fight, whereuron
our contingent returned to our lines,
AT three places in Lorraine Amer
ican troops, acting in cooperation
with small French detachments,
raided German trenches. Two of
these operations we're carried out
simultaneously each on frontage of
600 yards. After prolonged bom-
bardment the attacking units were
able to reach their objectives.
Enemy Had Fled.
Few of the enemy were found in
the f1rst line trenches and the attack
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