Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-03
WHAT 1918 FINDS
. ON BATTLE FRONTS
Sec. Bakers Weekly Review
Briefly Summarizes Present
Situation.

Washington, Dec. al.-What the begin.
ming of the New Year finds at the battle
fronts is outlined by Secretary Baker in
his weekly review Of military operations
Issued tonight by the war department. In
the west. he says, the British dominate
the Flanders plain with a great wedge
into the principal German line of defense
at Cambria, while the French, with their
own lines unbroken hold the key to the
Laon area through the capture Of Chemin
Des Danes.
Italy. supported by the allies, is holding
hrm while the enemy after battering in
vain for six weeks against the defenders
Is busy preparing for a renewed offensive.
or 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 embassy 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 allies and increased
faith in final victory.
The review for the week ending Decem-
Der 81 follows in part:
"Detachments Of our own forces have
engaged the enemy. While their opera
lions have been confined to narrow limits
their aid has been valuable and the pres
ence Of American troops in the firing
line has heartened the allies to continue
the struggle with increased faith in Anal
victory.
During the period under review the
combat situation remained unchanged.
Reports OF the concentration of hos
tile troop masses in the west continue to be
received.
"As far as military operations in the
west are concerned. no events Of more
than minor Importance are reported. The
Germans have been busy regrouping their
forces.
'In the italian theatre the enemy is
continuing his persistent offensive opera
lions in the mountain area.
1.-THE Italians have hitherto held firm and
reaped the advantage Of the success
gained last week when they recaptured
the valuable strategic terrain in the vicin-
ity Of the Monte Asolone.
1.-THE Austro- Germans operating in the
region Of the Monte Asolone have been
busy reajusting their tactical dispositions,
and making further preparations for a
renewed offensive.
1.-THE Austro-H Hungarian general staff
seem to fear that without full German
support 1t would not be difficult prob
lem for the Italians, strongly reinforced
by French and British divisions, to turn
the tables on their invaders.
I'VE are now entering upon the third
month Of the battle for the mastery of
Venetia. Since November 9 the enemy
has been held up along the Piave. Dur
ing the past six weeks no really decisive
success has been gained by the invaders.
They have battered in vain against the
staunch resistance Of tho Italians.
Reviewing the situation. 1t is revealed
that the FIRST German successes in Italy
far exceeded their most sanguinary hopes.
IAN examination Of the tactical DISPOSE
lions Of the enemy shows that when he
met with a rebuff at one point he immedi-
ately shifted the center Of attack to an
other.
1.-THE Germans are now endeavoring to
persuade Russia that they are eager to
assist in tho task Of restoring normal
internal conditions in that country.
Already the Germans are taking up the
work openly in Petrograd. Large numbers
Of German officers are at large in Russia.
The German embassy building in the Rus
sian capital is being made ready for oc-
cupancy.
I'm the Balkan theatre new COM
mander-in.chief of the allied forces has
been appointed. Though no unusual mill
tary activity is reported from this area.
information reaches us OF hostile con-
centrations. and In certain quarters It is
believed that the enemy may undertake
an offensive operation in an endeavor to
strike at the point of Junction of the
French and italian forces.
"In Palestine the British have continued
their successes and are pushing north
y,a RI from Iaffa