The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-03-19
WAR DEPARTMENT SUM
MARY is OF GREATEST
GENERAL INTEREST
American Artillery Is
Very Active
Belief Voiced That Hun Will AS
sail Only If Compelled to Do So
Attack on Italian Front Is
Thought Likely.

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Ameri-
can troops now are in the front line
trenches at five different points in
France.
They are constantly in action and
acquitting themselves creditably
1t can now be revealed for the first
time that in their raid on March IL,
not only did they act on their own
initiative, but they penetrated the
enemy trenches to a depth of 300
yards. They had no French support
in this movement.
The entente is losing hope of q
sustained German offensive in the
west Only if compelled to by the ex-
igencies of the general strategic sit
uation will Germany try to break
through on the western front. 20
The general situation is improving.
along the western front from the
allied viewpoint British and French
successes took place during the last
week.
All this is DISTINCTLY emphasized
in the weekly war review issued by
the war department today.
Throughout it breathes a most ap
timistic spirit. The review is as fol-
| lows:
1.-THE period of inactivity in the west
| is becoming prolonged Though the
raids now taking place would in the
, past have been considered important
engagements, nevertheless, owing to
the fact that they are merely of minor
tactical value, they cannot be held to
be major operations.
while hostile preparations for an
Lee 20, rtxr tI,o - cIo nIr an,
ing, it is becoming more evident that
the enemy will launch this offensive
only if compelled to do so by the ex-
| igencies of the general strategic sit
uation. While fresh German divisions
are reported as moving in the west,
it is important to note that the dens-
ity of the enemy forces has nearly
reached a point beyond which it will
be impracticable to go, for should any
large additional body of men be mass
ed, the chances are that the conges-
ton of the lines of communication
will become so great as to make it
impossible to maintain the flexibility
of maneuver, which is so essential.
"Our own forces in France have
ben constantly in action.
Our troops are now in the trenches
at five different points.
"This week we took our first s
sault against German positions un-
assisted by any allied contingent
AT dawn on March IL, after a pre-
i liminary bombardment lasting three
quarters of an hour, we drove high
ly successful raid against a German
trench segment.
"Our men penetrated the German
line to depth of 300 yards. The en-
envy was driven off after a hand to
hand fight, whereupon our contingent
returned to our lines.
'At three places in Lorraine Amer
lean troops. acting in cooperation
with small French attachments, raid
ed German trenches. Two of these
operations were carried out simultan.
eously, each on a frontage of some
six hundred yards.
after prolonged bombardment the
attacking units were able to reacf
their detectives. Few of the. enemy
were found in the first line trenches
and the attackers swept forward into
the German second line.
Our men remained for nearly I
, hour in the German positions and re
J firing after inflicting much damage
and capturing considerable quantities
of material.
, "There has been a decided increas'
in sniping, owing to more favorable
weather conditions
! "Our artillery was also very active
; rive kept up a vigorous lombard
ment on the rear areas opposite ou
Toul sector.
Near the Swiss border, where an
: other detachment of our men are II
! the trenches, hostile bombardment
were frequent.
/ "The arrival of our secretary o
war in. France is noted
During the past week the secre