Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-08
GREATEST OF
FOE TRUSTS
seen COMING
Germans to Make Mightiest
Drive Warns Baker
Allied Forces Ready.

Washington, Jan. S.-The expected
German offensive in the west, Secre-
tary Bakers weekly war review to-
day says, will possibly be their
greatest assault" but, "the British and
French armies can be relied upon to
withstand the, shock"
Summarizing the situation on the
eve of a possible great offensive, Sec
rotary Baker confidently points out
that through Is fierce battles of great
magnitude. the British and French
have steadily pushed ahead with
methodical and cumulative gains. The
expected offensive, he points out,
probably is being delayed for massing
great supplies Of munitions, guns and
troops and the Germans may be ex
pected to strain every fibre of their
remaining strength"
French Turn the Scale.
On the Italian front, the secretary
said the French successes have turned
the scale against the Austro-German
invaders and the west bank of the
Pave is being held firmly. Hampered
by heavy snOwfalls in the Alps, he
says, the invader now is confronted
with tremendous handicap Of main
tanning his transport which neutral
ICES the advantage of holding higher
ground.
The period of adjustment, Secretary
Baker says. has passed and 1t may
X-be~.szpeeted- shak sthe French,
British and Italians, fighting side by
side will be able to master the sit
uation."
The review. whskh this week makes
no mention of Aisan troops, fol-
lows:
Six Weeks Used to Prepared
six weeks have elapsed since the
first rumors reached us Of the great
thrust in the west, which the enemy
then announced as imminent. In or
der to concentrate large troop masses.
adequate artillery and ample reserves
of munitions much time is required.
Though the German higher COM
mand has so long delayed before be-
ginning operations. advices received
seemingly confirm the information
that important actions are contem-
plated along the western front. They
may be counted upon to strain every
fibre of their remaining strength in
an endeavor to make their plans sue
coed.
IN considering the general mill
tarv situation ON the eve Of a possible
German offensive it must be recalled
that through 16 successive battles of
great magnitude in Flanders the Brit
I'll ;,fo
rious and pushed steadily ahead. The
Germans have during this long series
Of major operations been forced to
give way.
Allied Forces Ready.
"The impending German offensive
will possibly be their great assault.
The French and British armies can
be relied upon to withstand the shock.
''In the west no important opera
tions took place during the last seven
day period. The entire front rom
the North sea to the Swiss border was
very active. The Germans continued
their widely scattered thrusts while
the French and British parted with
careful patrolling. They remained on
the qui vive, taking note of every
minor change in the German order
of battle. keeping closely informed of
hostile troop movements and concen-
tratiOns.
Germans Stage Attack.
"In the Cambria area the enemy I'M
dertook an attack in force. Here the
Germans, in attempting a flanking
movement which had as its immedi-
ate objective the further narrowing
down of the British salient, were able
to penetrate and hold temporarily
certain British trench elements south
Of Marcoing.
Minor raids were carried on
throughout the week by both the
British and Germans.
Intense artillery bombardments in
the Lens and Cambria sectors would
indicate that the enemy has selected
n WI