The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-18
Week Marks First "Americans.
Only" Assault on Huns.
War Dept Reviews Great Activ.
ity of Sammies in France.
HUN OFFENSIVE ONLY BLUFF!
Threat of Spring Drive No
Longer Impresses Q. S.
"WiII Not Start One Unless
Forced" Says War Dept.

Washington, March 18.-Germany's
threat of a great spring offensive on
the western front no longer impresses
American military men,
In its weekly review today the war
department records the conclusion
that the enemy III spite of his vast
preparations will not take the often
sive unless forced into it This con-
firms the opinion many officers have
expressed for weeks in the face of
official forecasts to the contrary 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 Ger
man divisions have arrived on the
are said to be approaching the point
in density beyond which it would be
impossible to go without choking
communication lines and hampering
free movement of reserves. Appar-
emily, however. this concentration has
come to be regarded as a defensive,
not an offensive movement.
L. S. Now on Five Fronts.
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 communique,
however. adds nothing to recently
published press reports of the raids
and the trench fighting in which the
Americans have been involved.
Elsewhere on the western front ex-
perts find no evidence of impending
ma ior activities nv either side The
period of inactivity the statement says
is being prolonged. 1t notes, however,
indications of Austro G erman concen-
tration in the Italian theater which
may forecast assaults or Verona or
Brescia, as their objective.
The statement continues:
while fresh German divisions are
reported as arriving in the west. it is
important to note that the density of
enemy forces has nearly reached a
ticable to go for should any large
additional body of men be massed, the
chances are that the congestion of the
lines of communication will become so
great as to make it impossible to
maintain the f1exibility of maneuver
which is SO essential.
Americans Constantly Active.
Our own forces in France have
been constantly in action.
"Our troops are now in the trenches
at five different points. This week we
undertook our first assault against
German positions unassisted by any
allied contingent.
AT dawn on March II, after pre-
liminary ombardment lasting three
quarters of an hour, we drove a high
ly successful raid against a German
trench segment. Our men penetra ted
the German line to a depth of 800
yards. The enemy was driven #
after hand to hand fight, whereup
our contingent returned to our lines.
lat three places in Lorraine Amer
lean troops acting in cooperation with
small French attachments, raided
German trenches. Two of these oper-
ations were carried out simultaneous
ly, each on a frontage of some 600
yards. After prolonged lombard
ment the attacking units were able to
reach their detectives. Few of the
enemy were found in the first line
trenches and the attackers swept for
ward into the German second line
Our men remained for nearly an hour
after inflicting much damage and
capturing considerable quantities of
material
There has been a decided increase
in sniping, owing to more favorable
weather conditions. We kept up a
vigorous bombardment on the rear
areas opposite our Toul sector.
Near the Swiss border, where an
other detachment of our men are in
the trenches. hostile commandments
were frequent.
The arrival of our secretary of war
in France is noted. During the past
week the secretary has had interviews
with the leading French authorities
and is about to. undertake a careful
inspection of our schools, training
areas, rest camps as we'll as those sec
tors of the front where our forces are
in action.
The western front from the North
sea to the Aisne was the scene of
much hard fighting
DRIVE IN WEST-FOR PEACE.