Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-09

| LptCcu " give way. Lie EEcuCu SUOOu
like rock at Verdun and soon after
drove forward vigorously in the battle OF
the Somme and in turn played a great
part in the repeated drives In Flanders.
1.-The impending German offensive will
probably be their great assault. The
French and British armies can be relied
upon to withstand the shock.
I'm the west no important operations
took place during the past seven-day Pc
riod. The entire front from the North sea
to the Swiss border was very active. The
Germans continued their widely scattered
thrusts while the French and British par
ried with numerous accommodating raids
and careful patrolng.
They remained on the qui viVe, taking
note of every minor change in the Ger
man order of battle. keeping closely In
formed OF hostile troop movements and
concentrations.
III the Cambria area the enemy un-
Gertook an attack in force. Here the
! Germans n attempting a fanking
movement. which had as its immediate
objective the further narrowing down
Of the British trench elements south
Of Marcoong. This action was conduct
ed with great energy. The British i'm
media tely countered and were able to
recapture q part of their lost positions.
Another hostile thrust was under
taken close to the Canal Du Nord,
where the enemy scored local ad-
vantage as he was able slightly to press
back the british.
southeast of Lens the enemy made
a renewed attempt to reach the British
outposts but this assault was repuls-
ed before any result could be obtain
ed, while the British later in the week
advanced their trenchs in this area.
Minor raids were carried on during
; the week by both the British and Ger
mars. Numerous patrol encounters al
so were reported.
Intense artillery bombardments in
the Lens and Arras sectors would in
! dictate that the enemy has selected this
! terrain for Il concerted assault
J The French front remains relative
/ Is quiet. Severe cold prevailed. Spirit
! ed artillery actions We're reported in
! Champagne and in the region Of the
right bank Of the Mouse. Hostile infan-
/ try activity was noted in the region
! east Of St. Mihiel and near 81. Quentin,
! hut the efforts to set in motion on at
! tack AGAINST the F2eAch lines We're in
! each case readily dispersed.
( Reoraanize Italian Forces
! After fighting on the defensive for
! 70 weeks, the Italians. firmly supported
! by the Franco British forces. have
been able to reorganize their DISPOSE
! tion; in the field. Thercupon the French
Selling q favorable opportunity. pass
/ cd to the offensive in the neighborhood
! Of the Monte TCmba. The outcome of
: t'lcW undertaking was singularly fortu-
nate. Tui5 vitality important stTategi>'
point. which, had Il rcm2ined III the
/ hands of the enemy. would have afford
I'd him great advantage. was taken by
! tie French ~. the clibaX of daShinS
assault against very strong and dlii1-
,iIil POSITIONS. Nearly 1900 Austrian
PRISONERS We're captured.
French Success Turns Scale
The success OF the French turned the
scale The Italians encouraged by THIS
victory. at once set about driving the en-
envy across the Piava The Austrian3
sought to effect a crossing of the river IL
tee vicinity Of Intestadura. about 10 miles
nom tilt Stllt Tx La - NO''t-'it5 y 49,
were gathered together for TINS OPERATION
Owing to the vigorous nature OF ltalan
resistance, com slete failure attended the
undertaking and the enemy was Criren
back with serious loss. The Austrian de
tacnments which nave held the hrifgeheao
at Zanson on the right bank OF the i'iayc
ioc the past five weeks, were also driVet
out by an mpetuous attack and force /
to retire across the river, so that no hes
tile units now remain on the west baaH
Of the ?iave.
The British have raidtd enemy pos
lions across the river Their salliaS
acnisNoi excellent results, rs the. were
ablc 70 Indie; much damage on hostile
uutworks and tocI a number of pri:oa-
ers Heavy snow has at last fallen in the
Alpine regions, which greatly hampers
the Au.tro-Ciermans. 1t viii! be a tremen-
dous task for them to keep their lines o.
communication open il the mountain
areas Transport problems are at all
Zines peculiarly difficult in this theatre
and under the added burden Of uufavor-
able winter weather the practical adyan-
,tagc which the enemy has hitherto en-
joyed h>- holding the higher ground VIII
be neutralized by his transportation dltfi-
culties. the Italians remain III secure
possession OF their offensive positions
along tie Monte Grappa and the Asi2go
sectors.
The inter allied war council not rely
ing on undertaking a counter offensive in
the west in order to relieve Austro-Cier-
man pressure in Italy. smoothly and
quietly transported an important number
Of veteran French and British divisions
Ia the Venetian battlefields. Some time
had Of necessity to elapse before the
c,osetst coordination and harmony could
be secured. This period of adjustment
has now passed and we may anticipate
that the French. British and Italians
fighting side by side will be able to master
the situation