The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-01-11
Secretary Baker Believes Ger
man Offensive Will Be
Greatest Assault.
THE WEEKLY WAR REVIEW
French Successes Have Turned
the Scale Aainst the Invaders
of Italy, Says the Secretary
of War.

X-
pected German offensive in the west,
Secretary Bakers weekly war re-
view says, will possibly be their
greatest assault" but the French
and British armies can be relied up
on to withstand the shock.
Summarizing the situation on the
eve OF possible great offensive.
Secretary Baker confidently points
out that through sixteen fierce bat
ties OF great magnitude the British
and French steadily have pushed
ahead with methodical and cumula-
tive gains. The expected offensive.
he points out, probably is being de-
layed for massing great supplies of
munitions. guns and troops and the
Germans may be expected to "strain
every fibre OF their remaining
strength"
On Italian Front
On the Italian front, the Secretary
points out. French successes have
turned the scale against the Austro-
German invaders and the west bank
OF the Plave is being held firm. Ham,
pered by heavy snowfalls in the Alps,
he says, the invaders now are con-
fronted with tremendous handicap
OF maintaining their transports
which neutralizes the advantages of
holding higher ground.
10 a
tary Baker says. has passed and it
may now be expected that "the
French, British and Italians, fighting
side by side, will be able to master
the situation"
The review, which this week
makes no mention of American
troops. follows:
Review OF Operations.
Secretary Baker authorized the
publication OF the following review
of the military operations for the
week ending January 3. 1918:
"Six weeks have elapsed since the
first rumors reached us OF the great
thrust in the west, which the enemy
then announced as imminent.
''In' order to concentrate large
troop masses. adequate artillery and
ample reserves of munitions, much
time Is required.
Though the German higher COM
mand has so long delayed before be-
ginning operations, advices received
seemingly confirm the information
that important actions are contem-
plated along the western front. They
may be counted upon to strain every
fibre of their remaining strength in
an endeavor to make their plans
succeed.
Confidence I'm Allies.
''In considering the general mill
tary situation on the eve of a posi-
BILE German offensive, II MIST be re-
called that through sixteen success
full battles Of great magnitude in
Flanders the British have every
time come out victorious and pushed
steadily ahead. Their gains have
been methodical and cumulative.
The Germans have during this long
series OF major operations invariably
been forced to give way.
"The French stood like rock at
Verdun and soon after drove for
ward vigorously in the battle OF the
Somme, and In turn played a great
part in the repeated drives in Flan-
ders.
''The impending German offensive
will possibly be their great assault
The French and British armies can
be relied upon to Withstand the
shock.
No Big Operations.
''In the west no important opera
tions took place during the past
seyen-day period. The entire front
from the North sea to the Swiss bor-
der was very active. The Germans