Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1918-01-03
ALLIES new YEAR
PROSPECTS BRIGHT
STATES BAKER
War Secretary. Weekly Re-
view Assures People Allies
Hold Keys to Success In
War.

beginning Of the new year finds al
the battle fronts is outlined by Sec.
retary Baker in his weekly review OF
military operations issued tonight
In the west, he says, the British
dominate the Flanders plain with q
great wedge into the principal line
of defense at Cambria, while the
French, with their own lines un-
broken, hold the key to the Laon
area thru the capture of Chemin Des
Danes. r.
| Italy, supported by the allies, is
holding firm while the enemy, after
battering in vain for six weeks
against the defenders, is preparing
for renewed offensive.
OF Russia the review merely says
the Germans are endeavoring to
persuade that country that they are
eager to assist in restoring normal
conditions and that the German en-
bassy building at Petrograd is being
made ready for occupancy.
While the operation Of American
troops at the front has been confined
to narrow limits, the secretary says
their presence has heartened the al
lies and increased faith in final vic
tory.
The review, for the week ending
December 81, follows in part:
''The military situation at the be-
ginning of the new year is as fol-
lows:
In the west the British in the
Ypres salient occupy the highest
ground of the Passchendaele ridge
and dominate the. Flanders plain.
Their wedge in France of Cam
E3brat -hasarip ppvesd as eat gap m the
principal German line of defense.
The battle for Cambrai proved
that the German defensive positions
could be broken and taken. Tho full
advantage was not taken of the ear
lier successes gained by the British.
nevertheless the disaster to German
arms in this battle was the most
serious since the Marne.
The French, by the capture of
the Chemin Des Danes, have cap
tured the key to the Laon area.
Their own line of defense remains
unshaken. -
| i Il e q ! & q .s
"Detachments of our own forces
have engaged the enemy. While
their operations have been confined
to narrow limits, their aid has. been
valuable and the presence of An.cri-
can troops in the firing line has
heartened the allies to continue the
struggle with increased faith in final
victory.
During the period under review,
the combat situation remained uE-
changed.
Reports of the concentration of
hostile troops in the west continue to
be received.
''As far as military operations II,
the west are concerned, no events of
more than minor Importance are re-
ported. The Germans have been
busy regrouping their forces.
''In the Italian theater, the enemy
is continuing his persistent offensive
operations in the mountain area.
italians Hold Firm.
"The Italians have hitherto held
firm and reaped the advantage Of the
success gained last week when they
captured the valuable strategic ter
rain in the vicinity Of the Monte Aso-
lone. Az
"The Austro- Germans operating in.
the region Of the Monte Asolone
have been busy readjusting their
tactical dispositions and making
further preparations for = renewed
offensive. g3.sss; 3...5
''The Austro-H Hungarian general
stan seems to fear that without full
German support It would not be .
dificult problem for the Italians.
strongly reinforced by French and
British divisions. to turn the tables
on the invaders. I i :ss,iatss
s. q We are now entering on the
third month Of the battle for the
Of venetia. Since Noven-
ber 9 the enemy has been held up
: 80