Evening star., 1918-02-04
NATION WARNED
AGAINST GERMAN
STRIKE REPORTS
Must Cause No Let-Up in War
Preparations, Secretary
Baker Says.
u. S. TROOPS ARE AT LAST
HOLDING ACTUAL FRONT
Allies Believed to Have Preponder.
ance of Men and Guns in West
Despite Enemy's Claims.

Warning the nation not to le'
reports of strikes and other in
ternal disturbances in Germany
slacken its war preparations, Sec
retary Baker of the War Depart
ment in his weekly military re
view today also makes the officia
announcement that American
troops are at last holding a por
ton of the actual battle front
For the first time also, Secretary
Baker. declares, it Is fully believed the
allies have preponderance of men and
guns on the western front. despite the
fact that the German line has beer
strengthened by troops from the Rus
| sian field. Secretary Baker declares
the reports Of numerical superiority
have been spread by the enemy himself
Reviewing operations for the week
ending February 2, Secretary Bake,
says:
American troops which now have
completed their training are occupying
a portion of the actual battle front
The operations in which our troops
have So far been engaged were of a
minor character.
Germans on Identification Raid.
"On January 30 the Germans attempt.
ed strongly pushed raid against ous
! line for purposes Of Identification
Under cover of a heavy mist the enemy
was able to reach our advanced posi-
tions. A short brush ensued and the
raiders were compelled to withdraw In
haste. after infiicting slight casualties
Two days later the enemy apparentl,
attempted another reconnoiterinf
thrust. but was dispersed before an!
headway could be made.
Our patrols have been active in m
mans land and our scouts have mad,
| themselves familiar with the details o
| the hostile positions opposite them.
Another event of importance tool
| place in France. The fnteralIied -su
preme war council met at Versailles at
tended by Gen. Bliss. chief of stan oi
the Army. and Gen. Pershing, as wei
as the representatives of France. Grea
Britain and Italy. Complete and close
| ourselves and a harmonious under.
standing between the supreme com.
mands of all the forces engaged prom.
fses to show positive results. Unity OF
purpose on all fronts will thus be at.
tanned
Must Not Slacken War Preparation.
During the past seven-day period the
world has been flooded with the news
of very serious internal unrest in Ger
many. Widespread strikes among mu-
nltlons workers are reported. While
u se-fc rft Se-,
many, and strikes of increasing seri-
BUSINESS have occurred, we must not al
tions.
During the week hostile concentra-
tions in the west continued In certain
quarters the reports spread by the
enemy, that he holds a preponderous
numerical superiority nthe west, have
gained some credence. While positive
proof has been received that the enemy
has removed troops from the eastern
theater and Is stripping other fronts
for the coming struggle in the west
nevertheless, the allies are believed still
to hold very appreciable numerical
superiority both in men and guns.
Numerous Raids in British Theater.
I'm the British theater numerous
raids tok place. South Of Lens and
northeast of Langemarck. as well as
south OF the scarpe, the Germans sent
out accommodating detachments. The
British forces We're also busily engaged
sounding the enemy lines, identifying
new units, taking measure of the value
of the new contingents which are ar
irving along the German line in the
west from other theaters. Northeast of
Havrincourt and near Ephey British
patrols brought in prisoners.
Hostile artillery kept up a heavy
fire throughout the week in the Ypres
and Cambrai. salients. Passchendaele
and the regions of Arras and Lens were
also principal targets for the Germans.
The French We're also busy raiding
the enemy and kept a careful outlook
along their entire front. Opposite the
French, the Germans confined opera
tioas to minor raids north of the Aisne
and Upper Alsace.
"Profit.ng by the favorable atmos-
pheric conditions which prevailed, air
raids on q large scale We're under
taken. The British successfully bomb
ed centers in Flanders. and air squad
rons undertook attacks upon munition
plants and other military objectives in
the Rhine area. London and Paris, as
we'll as Dunkirk, Calais apd Boulogne
were visited by hostile aircraft.
Italians Regain Positions.
"In Italy a further improvement in
the combat situation is noted. The
Italians were very successful in follow
ing up their plans to regain points Of
particular strategic Importance along
their battle front. AS counterpart of
the French assault in the region of the
Monte Tomba, the Italians early in the
week launched a powerful offensive
thrust against the Austrian positions,
along the Asiago plateau. This attack
was directed against the strongly in
trenched enemy positions in the region
between the Frenzela and the Brenta.
.HThe italians succeeded in capturing
the hostile strongholds of the important
peaks of the Col Del Rosso and the
Monte di Val Bella. which resulted in
an appreciable advance of the Italian
line in this area: the capture of 100 Off
GERS, $500 men and a large quantity of
BY this very fortunate operation the
Italians were able to regain the inn
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