The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-03-18
American Military Men No
Longer Impressed by the
Threat Of Spring Drive.
EVENTS OF WAR REVIEWED
Hostile Preparation in West
Unslackened, However.
Hard Fighting in Progress
From North Sea to
River Aisne.
EVENTS OF WAR REVIEWED

Washington, March 1S.-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 re-
cords the conclusion that the enemy,
in spite Of its vast preparations, Will
not take the offensive unless forced to.
This confirms the opinion many Off
GERS have expressed for weeks in the
face Of official forecasts to the con-
trary from both sides Of the Atlantic.
while hostile preparations for an
offensive in the west are not slackeh-
ing" the review says. "it 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 on
which the opinion is based is not dis
closed. 1t is noted that fresh German
divisions have arrived on the western
front and the German lines 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. Apparently. however, TINS
concentration has come to be regarded
as a defensive not an offensive move
ment.
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, how
ever, adds nothing to recently pup
lished press reports of the raids and
trench fighting in which the Ameri-
cans have been involved.
inactivity Prolonged.
Elsewhere on the western front the
experts find no evidence of impending
major activities by either side, The
period of inactivity, the statement
says. is being prolonged. 1t notes,
however, the indications of Austro-
German concentrations in the Italian
theatre which may forecast assaults
on Verona or Drescia as their obJec-
tives. The statement follows:
THE period of inactivity in the west
is being prolonged. Though the raids
now taking place would in the past
have been considered important en-
gagements, nevertheless, owing to the
fact that they are merely of minor
tactical value, they cannot be held TO |
be jor operations.
"Whle hostile preparations for an !
offensive in the west are not slacken- !
ing, it is becoming more evident that |
the enemy will launch this offensive |
only IL compelled to do so by the eNi- |
gencies Of the general strategic situa-
tion. While fresh German divisions !
are reported as arriving in the we
Il is important to note that the density
I. VlNV
point beyond which it will be imprac-
ticable to go. for should any large ad-
dtional body of men be massed the
chances are that the congestion of the
lines of communication will become so
great as to make Il impossible to
maintain the fleXibility Of manoeuver
which Is so essential.
"Our own forces in France have
been constantly in action our troops
are now in the trenches at five differ
ent points.
This week we undertook our first
a assault against German positions un-
assisted by any allied contingent
Entered to 800. Yard Depth.
AT dawn on March II. after a pre-
liminary bombardment lasting three
quarters of an hour, we drove a highly
raid against a German
trench segment our men penetrated
the German line TO depth of 800
wards. The enemy was driven off after
a hand-to- hand fight whereupon our
returned to our lines.
at three places in Lorraine Ameri-
can troops. acting in operation with
small French detachment, raided
German trenches. Two OF these op-
erations were carried out simultan-
n GOO
Yards After a prolonged lombard ,
ment the attacking forces were able
to reach their cbjectives. Few of the r
enemy were found in the first line I
trenches and the attackers swept for a
ward into the German second line. 7
our men remained for nearly an hour i
i'm the German positions and retired
after inhicting much damage and cap
turing considerable quantity OF ma
erial
There has been a decided increase
In sniping owing to more favorable
weather conditions.
We kept up a vigorous lombard {
nent on the rear areas opposite our a
FOUL sector. =
Near the Swiss border. where an y
,ther detachment OF our men are in :.
he trenches. hostile bombardments ~
we're frequent.
The arrival OF our secretary OF war :
n france is noted. During the past
week the secretary has had interviews .
With the leading French authorities !.
md is about TO undertake a raTeful 1
nspectIon Of our schools. training =
,reas. rest camps. as well as those L
ectors Of the front where our forces
IRE in action.
Much Hard Fighting. q
The western front, from the North II
ca TO the Aisne. vas the scene Of
much hard fighting. m
The Germans carried out a number q
Z air raids against London and Paris. @
.Ued aviators raidod German indus r
raj rgntcrs OF the Rhine region.
"T7 the Italian theatre the arrival ~ pl
lore hostile units and the concentra- | ei