Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-11
development
Of Gelmany's Long De-
ferred Offensive
Suaaested as Possibility by War De-
partmer.s Weekly Review-Oisei'
. mime ana Efficiency Prevented Great
er Loss on TusCania

er Loss on Tuscania
Washington, Feb. 1U-DeVeiopment
II Cermanys long deferred offensive
In the West from the accommodating
ihrusts launched during the past week
around CanbGai aud Ut other points 10
suggested as :. possibility III the week
IN Military Review issued tonight oy
the war department. SO far, however
III spite oi neavy lighting, the depart
Ineut says, no actions OF more tlan
lgcal character have been recorded.
The review tells vi the toipedoihs Oh
the liner Tuscan4a, when carried more
taa 200 American soldiers, and at
tributed the relatively small loss OF Ike
estimated al about 113 men, TO the me
discipline Of the soldiers and eHciehcv
Of those In command. 1t express pro-
.l.u appreciation of the rescue work
Of the British navy and continues III
pat as follows:
The sector in Lorraine where our
forces are in contact with the enemy
continued relatively active throughout
the eek Artillery duels took place
Internationally, but fog and heavy rains
p.tleItGG infantry engagements. me
licir.anS attempted no further RAIDS
and settled down to systematic snip
Ing and bombing Of our positions.
Our shaipshooters gave good
account Of themselves. keeping the
enerny pagapets we'll cleared of Ger
mans.
One stretch of our line is very close
up to the German positions. Here
bombing and frequent exchange OF
hand grenades occurred.
German airplanes made repeated
attempts to push their accommodating
sallies over our lines, but were in
variably met with hot fire from our
anti-aircraft guns.
Our forces engaged nave shown them
selves well fitted for their task in the
trenches and are rapidly becoming &C
customed to the routine of trench war
fare The welfare Of our troops, whether
In the trenches or In rest depots. Is the
object of the immediate personal con-
Germ Of our commanders. The rations for
the men in the trenches, in spite OF the
enemy's attempts to bread up our trans
port columns, have been regularly as
sured. The care Of our wounded at our
field dressing stations, as well as at the
base hospitals. is being carried on with
efficiency and scientific skill
Here in America at our environments
the training of our new armies is pro-
ceeding methodcally.
The arrival in the western theatre Of
additional German forces coming original
ly from the Russian front is noted. Fur
Their Austrian divisions have also been
detached from other zones Of operation
and are being concentrated in reserve
behind the German lines in the west.
Much dissatisfaction is expressed
throughout Austria Hungary at the poll
cy of dispatching their troops to fight
Germany's battles along the western
front.
THE desire for peace is increasing daily
in the Dual Monarchy and it is only nat
ural that the Austrians should resent
sacrificing their forces on distant battle
fields in furtherance of German ambi-
tons alien to their interests.
FLANDERS was again the scene of nu-
the regions of the Ypres- Staden railway.
where such fierce fighting took place last
autumn.
The Germans pushed forward repeated
reconnoitering thrusts against British
positions northeast of Poelcapelle, in the
Cambria salient, and at number of other
points.
Heavy fighting took place along the
entire front. Though no actions of more
than local character were recorded, It
would appear that the long deferred or
fensive may develop simultaneously at
different points of the line as an outcome
of these engagements
The British took full of the enemi
in these various undertakings and had
the situation well in hand
THE French front also was the
scene of much lively fighting.
I'm the Italian theatre no i.npo tant
operations took placN. The Au-.riars
We're busy re-arrang n: thcil ttsnosi-
Il n f units alonG tie front. aut he
Italians kept up C cntinuou+ h,lass-
ing bonlbardment OF the entire cnenv
line.
'rhe Anst;ians a;e continuing their
p irV "' hC"'h."c thc cn : towns Of
the Nenetinn plain. The pr.cen s art
'"a1sH Z i'a4ua T's~IGu. Trcy.so.
'.' .pHHu>N rtSpe "t,0 through all
'N.r ''urai-us Ia l}all. We're during
ia weeA the tar.et- OF AUSTRIAN avi-
..I.1r.
a" R;uisi IN I'a,nst;nc have al
Van "a th"lr Eaei sl:ehlly north Of .le-
ans lem.
IN III, Halkans there was roc,,r-
renee ri iivc!v operations Allied No.
trolS br7Se !lfo RU!garian positions at
various points The actrvr co-one,a-
ton Of the Geek contineo1ts nth the
Niles is noted, and Grce'i aviatnrs con-
dacted iuc cesfll ar raids N the VAR
dar VALLEY.
Russian Stu ticn Confused
The situation in Russia continues
confused. Economic conditions have
grown more serious and internal strife
has broken out in various parts of
the country
"In spite of many advers. factors,
the Rumanian forces have hitherto
held together and are today an eff
cient fighting unit. The combat strength
of the Rumanian army has increased
by so per cent. since las. year. and,
according to last reports, the Rumani-
ans have taken over the entire front
from Galatz to Czernovitz."
-------------