The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-28
Germans Planning Cam
paign in Connection with
Western Offensive
WARNING GIVEN BY
SECRETARY OF WAR
Submarines Recalled to Bases to Be Ee-
fitted for Attacks to Stop Flow of
Men and Munitions from the United
States to France.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-Warning
that the Germans are preparing for
great submarine offensive against the
American lines of communication with
France in connection with the impend-
ing Toutonic drive against the west
front is given by Secretary Baker in
bis weekly military review, made pub
lie by the war department.
Recently there has been marked
decrease in the number OF. allied mer-
chant ships sunk by submarines. The ex-
9lanation for this is found in the with
travail of submarines in preparation
for the coming thrust on land and sea.
The review SAYS:
- As the time draws near when once
q decisive blow in the west it must be
Emphasized that he will not be content
with mere military operations on large
scale
During the past fortnight enemy
submarines have been recalled to home
ports to be reftted and the most pow
Tful submarine offensive hitherto un-
dartaken may be expected to be
launched against our lines of communi-
cation with France. to interrupt the
Itcadv flow of men and munitions for
our own armies and food supplies for
the allies
During the period under review, re
moved activity along the entire west
ern front is noted
1.-The region bordering the North sea
/ has once again become the scene Of So
we're fighting
/ careful co-ordinatcd operation
undertaken by British monitors, acting
IN concert with land batteries in the
! area north Of IPres subjected the Ger
man defenses Of OStend and surround
ing country to a severe bombardmeut.
/ Va infantry action was attempted
( in this sector by the British, but later
in the week the Germans reacted sharp.
/ iv and directed a strong assault against
the short sector of the line in the Dune
area, which fringeq the coast in the
/ vicinity Of Newport. This ATTACK
which must be considered something
more than simple raid, broke into the
/ French lines and for brief period the
( enemy detachmeuts were able to hold
/ 5heir ground in the advanced French
/ outIosts The French speedily brought
( mp fresh forces, drove ont the enemy
and were able to re-estahlish themselva,
N their former positions without diff
/ :cuitv.
( In the Italian theater the impor
lance of the successful French assault
/ IN the region Of the Monte Tomba thra,
weeks ago is proved by the retreat OF
the enemy in this area. The enemy ha,
abandoned an extensive tract of terrain
I north of the Monte Tomba extending
10 the Plave. The Austrian lines now
/ rest on the Monte Spinoncia. II woulc
appear that the enemy has for the tim,
being abandoned his attempt TO breaI
through this channel to the plain
The Au9trianS, while still stronf
IN this sector, nevertheless, no longe
directly threaten the key positions O.
the Italian line. The increasing liveli
ness Of enemy artillery in the Va
Lagarlna is recorded. 1t is apparen
that the Austrians are carrying on
their plans of shifting their center o
attack further to the west.
THE Val Lagorina offers peculia
attraction for an invasion of Italv. |
Is classic path Of invaders comm,
from the north. We may expect tina
should the opportunity seem favorabl,
.te enemy may attempt an operation Il
this area.
Reoorts reach Us of the increasin
restlveness Of the Slav population 0
Austria, more particularly the Czechs.
The general strike in Vienna am
other upheavals through the monarch
are assuming serious proportions an
they are no longer to be held of mer
internal interest but will inevitably r,
act on the general political situation.
la Russia, peace negotiations hav
continued with frequent Interruptions.