Evening journal., 1918-03-22
Baker CABLED TIP
on HUN Offensive
Warned Wilson French
Knew Unprecedented Blow
at British Was Near
CHANNEL PORTS
GOAL OF ENEMY

WASHINGTON, March 22.-General |
stan officers here are convinced that
the much advertised German drive at
last has begun.
There are hints that Secretary Of War
Baker has cabled the President that
definite Information OF a pending at
tack on an unprecedented scale against
the British had been obtained by French
Headquarters in the last two days.
Bonar Laws statement IN Parliament
that the attack launched by the Ger
mans against the British was on a
greater scale than heretofore attempted
durins the entire war bears out this
forecast.
Latest reports are that the Germans
have succeeded in msssing enough man
power between Cambria and La Fere
10 penetrate the British lines. This IS
admitted by the British and already
announced from Berlin. But the ex-
tent Of the real damage inflicted by this
blow cannot yet be estimated.
10 already has been forecast that
concentrated German attack might ne
cessitate yielding Of ground by the
British. Warning TO this eject already
has come from the British military lead
NIns NNNtrn ~ y fhlAnAIRA1 NN'" A'N
necessarily mean that this ground is
definitely lost. but is in line with the
policy OF letting the enemy come on TO
given point before striking back in
the couIter offensive.
Military experts Of the General stan
here say judgment cannot be passed on
fhe lighting until the result Of the
British counter offensive has been evil
denced.
10 is explained that the Germans gave
way before the British tank attack neal
Cambrai in order TO strike back at thS
opportune time The same tactics were
later employed by the British when th'
Germans came forward on this section
Of the front. The net result Of attacl
and counter attack explain the success
or failure Of the offensive, it Is en-
phasized.
The objects which the Germans seel
20 attain are naturally not alt0gethe
clear. The consensus In military cir
cles tonight is that The German Hisl
Command is aiming primarily at smash
ing through 10 the Channel ports. Pos
session Of these ports would threatei
the British line Of communication, an
would give the Germans a submarin
and aerial base close TO England
shores.
There has been a prevalent belle
here that the Germans would strik
near where the British and Frenc
troops join. Good roads and othe
characteristics of the terrain make thl
a promising field for wide scale opera
tons, is Is added But the Allies hay
long realized this, and there was Orr
confidence last night that the advan,
ing Germans will get all and more ths
they bargained for before the 0ffensiN
and counter offensive come TO an end
The attack on the British line Is est
mated here 90 be sixty-eight miles frol
the m0si western point of-the Amerioa
troops in the Lorraine sector. A SUI
tanned offensive by the Germans is r
garded as certain 10 involve the Amer
can troops in the thick OF the iightln
announcement is felt here over U
fact that the military operations OF q
Entente and the United states are no
at this moment Of crisis In the han'
Of the Supreme War Council. Gener
Tssker H. Bliss, the American Chief
stan, and General Pershing doubtle
are assisting IN the plans TO cope vii
the new German advance, which m
mentarily threatens the whole alli
position by weakening the British lin
Reports received here last night sta
that the German offensive apparent
has included bleNNs aimed at the Fren
in Lorraine and in the Nerdun regiC