The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-02-22
BLOW AT ALLIED Line IN
West is EXPECTED SOON
no eu,,,. A'ifhoi TANKS AND NEW MYSTERIOUS GAsn
DAi "hhN ARRAs AND ST. QUENTIN: LONG ROM
IDEA WILL BE SUPPLANTEO BY SURPRISE ATTACK

British Army Headquarters
france, Feb. l9-The great Cerma
offensive on the western front NAV i
expected to begin at any moment nov
and as far as the British front is con
cerned the main thrust will be mad
on the sector between Arras and 81
| Quentin.
Tanks and "a new mysterious gasi
will be employed by the enemy in q,
attempt to break through the allie,
line. Other attacks will be delivere,
further south. These facts have h..
come known through captured German
prisoners and from information CLEAN.
ed in other ways.
The plans of the German higher
command are complete and after MANY
weeks of intensive training oil assault
ing troops they are ready to make the
supreme and final effort which has
bean advertised so widely in the past
weeks.
Field Marshal Won IIindenburg and
General Won Ludendorff appear to nave
realized that the old methods of at
tack, in which a long bombardment is
employed, are too well known to pro-
duce the results desired. According
~ the German troops are being told
that surprise attacks, such as were
used in Galicia last summer, at Riga
and again on the Isonzo, are to be
tried against the allies on the western
front.
Much stress has been laid on the
fact that tanks and new gas are to be
used, leaving the infantry little TO do
but to walk through the gaps and con-
solidate the positions captured. Ger.
man troops have been trained to take
long approach marches and then to
stofm eleIny positions after a short
gas shell bomba rdnent Those o'p's
st1eles w.lica the Gefman artillery i,,s.s -,
1gt oblitarated win be rushed y thf
4ossseg of -Hf1saliS ssgot Cer3' 'sa'sess !
bassalies., 10 finish the wori begun by
the tanks and gas.
Word has been passed out by the
German high command that few OF
the allied troops will suvive the effects
Of the tanks, the gas and the lombard
ment, and that fresh German infan-
try will overcome speedily any resist
arce offered in captured positions.
DESPITE these assurances and the IN
tensive training to which they have
been put, the German troops are
frankly skeptical and are undertak-
ing their task with no enthusiasm, ac-
cording to prisoners. They feel they
are going to be thrown into battle tc
be used as cannon fodder and do moi
relish the prospect. q
It is said General Won Luder ORR
recently addressed body of infantry
at Laon and asked how many mel
were willing to fight to finish. Only
five noncommissioned officers and prl
Yates stepped forward. The others de
clared their desire for an early peace
, by arrangement"
German officers, on the other hand
appear to have the conviction they
will be able to break through by means
of their secret attacks.
General Won Huiter, who is reputeC
to have laid the plans for the capture
of Riga, has come to the western iron
to assist in the preparation. The les
sons of the capture of Riga have beer
r preached religiously to the German
, troops. It has been pointed out tha
{ there preliminary bombardment o
four or FIVE hours to cut the enem!
wire and demclish defenses was suth
, cient to give the Germans firm foot
ing in the Russian positions. Int
, enemy troops have not been told, how
ever, that the morale Of the Russians
|. at Riga was very low and that thu
German attack was complete sur
prise.
, The Germans will find the alliet
! morale at the highest pitch on th'
, western front and their attack will b.
far from the surprise desired. The
allies are ready for big blow ant
await with assurance the next move
of the German high command.
The German attack cannot be delay
; ed much longer.
All information points to the fac
that both German civilians and sol
diers are keyed up to such pitch o
nervous expectancy that the strail
, cannot endure for long. They are wait
ing for the attack with feverish hop
that the high command can this tim
make good its promise. The Germal
troops are expected to fight well.
r The coming battles will perhaps b
] the most sanguinary of the war ant
they will be the most intensive ye
I seen. But>they will mark the begin
/ ming of the end, for if the Germans d
J not break cler through the allied lin
! and they cannot-they virtually vii
be finished. The emperor is putinl
every ounce of strength into this grea