Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-02-21
BOTH SIDES SET FOR EXPECTED HUN DRlVE IN FRANCE Germans Training Picked Troops in Mobile Warfare
 Tn Hope of Break. BAKER REVIEWS WAR SITUATION OF WEEK Turks Re-occmpyins Armenian Towns as Russians Witildra Arabs
 Join British in Near
 East Theatre.

. l Washington, Feb. 20--After cXten. l sive preparations silently and system, atically carried on, it is apparent that
 both the Germans and the allies arc
 ready for the long expected offensive
 in the west, Secretary Baker says to-
 day Tn ms review of military opera
 atlons for the week ending February
 l6th.
 While there have been outwardly no new developments in the military
 situation in the west during the per lod under review" says the communi- que, 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 The Germans have recently withdrawn number of their veteran west front units from the first l line trenches. and are busily training them in mobile warfare.
 According to advices received, the | German general staff hopes that by masslnS large number of these pick ed shock 'battalions which have been intensely trained, they may deliver a. crushing blow
 The bulk of the German forces are i now assembled in the west But a 1 large number of these units are who'll ly untrained in the method of vest 1 ern front warfare, which differs radi- cally from that conducted along other i fronts. Furthermore, the German higher command 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 Russia only after the morale of the Russians had been undermined: the same was true in Italy and we witnessed how speedily the Italian line was mended.
 During the week there has been much activity of a minor character along the the entire western front.
 As has already been announced, in Lorraine. a segment of the line is en- tirely under the control of our forces Along our front patrol encounters were numerous. The Germans under took a raid against our positions and succeeded in inflicting a few casual ties. A small American patrol, while sCouting.iE iE No Mans Land, was amf pushed By the enemy
 "The weather was very rainy dur ing the first part of the week and our troops were busy manning pumps in an effort to keep their trenches dry.
 Later clear weather prevailed and hostile aircraft made frequent flights to reconnoiter our positions. A mark ed improvement in our anti-aircraft barrage is reported. Artillery duels took place and the Germans showered cur lines with gas shells, which how ever. caused no casualties. owing to efficient gas mask protection.
 'In Champagne, units of American artillery participated in an engage, ment undertaken by French forces. This operation was the most import ant of the week in the west. After very careful artillery preparation dur ing which our batteries co-operated usefully, French infantry advanced to the assault southwest of the Butte du lMesnil, along a front of about 400 yards The French, succeeded in penetrating the German positions, broke through the second and reach ed the third German line. During this brisk attack. the French destroyed many enemy shelters. inflicted much damage to enemy positions besides bringing back 150 prisoners.
 Other successful raids were under taken by French attachments in the vicinity of the Chemin des Danes, east of Rheims. in upper Alsace and else where. In all the French drove for ward 12 very fortunte reconnaissance undertakings along different parts of the line.
 German units were also active. Their attempts to reach the French lines were temporarily successful in the vicinity of BeonvauX and in AL sace. However, seven German raids at various other points broke down. French artillery kept the enemy con- stantly engaged along a widely scat tered area.
 "The British front was alst. the scene of numerous minor engage ments No important actions took place and the enemy who was evident ly busy with the grouping of units and disposing fresh forces recently arriv- cd from other theatres, in the front line undertook only such reconnOiter- ing engagements as to familiarize the new units with the nature of the ter rain in front of them.
 "In Italian theatre the enemy has again assumed an aggressive attitude
 ''The concentration of an important body of German cavalry in the vicin- ity of Riga is noted and it is believed that the Germans may find t expedr ent to advance on Petrograd. It is difficult to determine the exact status of affairs in Southwestern Russia. The Russian contingents<are evacuat ing the Armenan centers south of the Plack sea which are being reoccupied by Turkish attachments. Trebizond will probably soon fall into Turkish hands.
 ct is important to record that large contingents of Arabs are joining the forces of the Sheik of Mecca, who is cooperating with the British
 '9rhe. Arabs have defeated the Turks