The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-17
WINTER HOLDS ARMIES DOWN.
Only Minor Developments Recorded
by Secretary's Review.

recorded in the weekly review of mil
itary operations made public tonight
by the war department. Wintry
weather is interfering with opera
tions in Italy, France and Flanders,
and in Russia the military situation
is overshadowed by peace ne
gotiations, from which, the re-
view says, no conslusions can
safely be drawn. The report
also says Austrian hoWitzers
from the Italian front have appeared
on the front in France.
Of the American forces in France
the department announces that their
preparation for the ordeal of battle
is being steadily pursued and that
Gen. Pershing reports their health
and fighting spirit extremely good.
Camps at Home.
General improvement in health
and equipment conditions in training
camps at home is reported, and the
department says in spite of the ab-
normal cold the camps have been ad-
equately heated and soldiers have had
sufficient supply of blankets.
"On the active fronts in the west
and in Italy the equilibrium of bat
tie has been maintained" says the
review "The usual engagements so
repeatedly recorded during the past
week, which are merely every day
occurrences in the normal course of
modern warfare, raids, reconnoiter-
ing thrusts, patrol encounters, artil-
lery duels and disturbing fire can
have. but little influence on the gen.
eral situation.
OF Doubtful Value.
|. ANY discussion of the military
position in the west must be confin-
ed to the analysis of minor engage
ments, which amount to a speculative
discussion as to their significance.
This in the present stage of the war
is of doubtful value.
During the period under review
the enemy has concentrated his at
tacks against the British in the re-
gion north of the Cambria area and
in the Ypres salient, and by contin-
uous harrassing fire and minor Of
fensive thrusts endeavored to make
tactical readjustments and new dis
positions Of units.
Operations I1npeded.
"Owing to the intensely cold wea-
ther all along the entire western
front operations have been impeded,
though the terrain in Flanders and
Artois, normally so muddy and water
logged, has been frozen, which will
facilitate operations sLs soon as clear
weather returns.
''The Identification of Austrian un-
it's along the western front is of in
terest. For some time past We have
been receiving information to the ef-
feet that Austrian howitzers, which
had been participating in the often
sive in July, we're being detached
from the Italian theatre and trans
ported to the west.
Aviators Keep Busy.
I'm spite of unfavorable atmos-
pheric conditions French and British
aviators were very busy along the
whole front and brought down a
number of hostile planes. Air raids
into the interior of Germany were
crowned with success.
''In Italy the enemy has been i'm
modified by the deep snow in the
mountain zone. Fresh snow has fall
On throughout the Alpine region,
blocking the passes and rendering
active operations impossible. Never
theless the Austro-Germans are en-
deavoring to continue their lombard
ments of the Italian positions along
the Asiago plateau and the Monte
Tomba.
Deceiving German People.
"While information reaches us
that the Austro-Germans proposed to
undertake simultaneous offensives in
Italy and in the west, it is to be
noted that within the central en-
pires great efforts are being made
to spread broadcast the news that
the Germans have fulfilled their wild
est objectives in the Italian theatre
and that no further forward move
ment could be of any advantage to
their interests.
I'm Russia the military situation
is for the time being overshadowed
by the peace negotiations, which have
been instituted.
"No conclusions can safely be