New Britain herald., 1918-02-25
BAKER REFERS TO
 YANKEE ACTIVITY
Increased Importance Of Amerl-
 can Troops Commented on

was]7inpton Feb 2o.---Increasing- i ly iunortant activity by the Amer 1 ican forces on the western front and 1 the return for rest at g. leave station | of Inc men who have completed their 1 first neriod of duty in the trenches l arc noted in this weeks review of military operations by the war de- 1 partment
 Tn the news of the renewed Ger man offensive against the Russians. the most important development of the week. the department finds no cause for surprise, but adds nothing to the information carried in press dispatches. The review was written before the announcement came from London that the Bolsheviki had ac- cepted Germanys peace terms.
 Hitherto, little opposition has been offered to the advancing Ger mans" the department says, and if is not as yet clear what preparations the Russians are making to meet the enemy. Owing to the disorganiza- ton of the Russian forces, it is diffi- cult to presage what effective oppo- sition they may be able to place in the path of the invaders
 Of the western front the review says:
 While no major undertakings were recorded in the west, yet the entire front was the scene of hard driven assaults of a minor character. Our own forces arc taking an in creasingly important part in the op- erations. Last week we recorded the participation of our artillery in the very successful thrust made by the French in the region of the Butte du Mesnil. This week the presence of our infantry in very important area of the Chemin des Danes is re. ported. Here our patrols have been outside our barbed wire and havo undertaken number of scouting ex. petitions in No Mans land, which were successfully carried through.
 At the time our detachments were coming up into the trenches they were under heavy hostile shell fire; nevertheless our men made their way to their stations without con- fusion or casualties. It is useful to note that our forces now in action in this, one of the most active sectors of the entire French front, have ac- quilted themselves very creditably.
 During the week General Persh- ing made a personal inspection of the American sector northwest of Foul. He visited all our first line trenches, observation posts, battery ennplace- ments and other points of interest. During the two days spent on this tour, the comnander-in-c chief came in close contact with the men in the trenches, heard their comments or complaints, and noted carefully all
 
 dition and welfare of our troops in action.
 Our men who have completed their first period of duty in the trenches have arrived at the leave center established al AiX les Bains. This is the first of series of rest centers it is proposed to establish where our men can find rest and rec reation after the trying ordeal of trench life.
 Along the French front the enemy reacted energetically in the region southwest of the Butte du Mesnil. After a sanguinary encounter the Germans succeeded in regaining part of the trenches lost last week. A further attempt in which three Ger man battalions participated was re- pulsed. In a third assault the Ger mans took 125 prisoners, but the French forces reSained the lost posi- tions after a spirited counter-attack Our artillery participated in these operations.
 Artillery duels took place along the entire front. A decided increase in the intensity of bombardme ents was noted.
 'rrhe British have taken over an additional segment of the French line The transfer of an appreciable mileage of the front below St Quen- tin was made to the British without difficulty or delay.