New Britain herald., 1918-02-20
TASK OF GERMANS
IN WEST DIFFICULT
Problems Offer New Obstacles for
Troops From East
INTENSIVE TRAINING PERIOD

Prussians Success on Russian and
Italian Fronts, Due to Lack of
Morale in Opponents Forces Not
Anticipated West.
Washington, Feb. 20.-Secretary
Baker today issued his review of
military operations for the week end
ing February 16.
The statement follows:
''While there have been outwardly
no new developments in the military
situation in the west during the per-
iod under review yet it is apparent
that both the enemy and the Allies,
after extensive preparations, which
have been silently and Systematically
carried on, are ready for battle The
Germans have recently withdrawn a
number of their veteran west front
units from the first line trenches and
are busy training them in mobile war
fare.
According to advices received the
, German general staff hopes that by
massing a large number of these
picked shock battalions, which have
! been intensively trained they may
/ denver q cruSn1ng b1oW,
THE bulk of the German forces are
now assembled in the west. But a
large number of these units are wholly
unframed in the method of western
front warfare which differs radically
from that conducted along other ronts.
Furtherm ore, the German higher COM.
mand realizes fully that their forces
Will meet with far more difficult
tactical obstacles than any hitherto
encountered by an attacking army.
A break through was possible in Rus
sia, only afer the morale of the Rus
slams had been undermined, the same
was true in Italy and we saw how
speedily the Italian line was mended.
During the week there has been
much activity of a minor character
along the western front.
With American Troops.
AS has already been announced In
Lorraine a segment of the line is
entirely under the control of our
forces. Along our front, patrol en-
| counters were numerous. The Ger
mans undertook a raid against our
positions and succeeded in inf1icting a
| few casualties. A small American
patrol, while scouting in No Man
Land, was ambushed by the enemy
''rhe weather was very rainy dur
: ing the first part of the week and
our troops were busy with the pumps
( IN an effort to keep their trenches
dry. Later clear weather prevailed
and hostile aircraft made frequent
flights to reconnoiter our positions. A
| marked improvement in our anti
aircraft barrage is reported. Artillery
| duels took place and the Germans
showered our lines with gas shells
which however, caused no casualties.
| owing to efficient gas mask protec-
ton.
I'm Champagne, units of American
artillery participated in an engage
ment undertaken by French forces.
This operations was the most i'm
I pOrtant of the week in the Wesa
"After careful artillery preparation.
| during which our batteries co-operat-
/ ed successfully, French infantry ID
vanced to the assault southwest Of
the Butt du Mesnines, along a front
| of about 1,40O yards. The French
succeeded in penetrating the German
positions, broke through the second
| and reached the third German line.
! During this brisk attack the French
| destroyed many enemy shelters, in
| ficted much damage to enemy posi-
| tions besides bringing back $50 pris-
| oners.
"Other successful raids were under
| taken by French detachment in the
vicinity of the Chemin des Danes,
| east of Rheimsin upper Alsace and
! elsewhere. In all the French drove
! forward 12 very fortunate recon-
| noissance undertakings along differ
! ent parts of the line.
( "German units were also active.
Their attempts to reach the French
| lines were temporarily successful
near Bezonvaux and in Alsace. How
| ever, seven German raids at various
other points broke down. French ar
! tiIlery kept the enemy constantly en-
| gagged along widely scattered area.
| THE British front was also the
| scene Of numerous minor engage
ments No important actions took
| place and the enemy, who was evil
i IDENTIFY busy with the grouping Of
! units and disposing fresh forces re
| Gently arrived from other tn eaters in
| the front line. undertook only such
! nnOitering cngagem ents as to
fanliliarize the new units with the
! nature of the terrain in front Of
| them.
''In the Italian theater the enemy
has assumed an aggressive attitude.
Tho concentration OF an important
| BODY Of German cavalry at Riga, is
noted and it is believed the Germans
! NAV find it expedient to advance on
| petr0grad IT is difficult to deter
mine the exact status of affairs in
INN !