The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-18
GERMAN DRIVE
IN WEST IS
NOT FEARED
BY AMERICA
Enemy Will Not Take Often
sive Unless Forced Into 1t,
Says War Department in
Weekly Review.
is DEFENSIVE MOVE

WASHINGTON, March 1s.-Ger-
many's threat Of a great spring Of
fensive on the western front, no long
er impresses American military men.
In the weekly review today the war
department records the conclusion
that the enemy in spite OF his vast
preparations, will not take the Of
fepsive unless forced into it. This
confirms the opinion many officers
have expressed for weeks in the face
Of official forecasts to the contrary
from both sides Of the Atlantic
while hostile preparation for an
offensive In the west are not slacken-
Ing the review says, "it is becoming
more evident that the enemy will
launch the offensive only II compelled
to do SO by the exigencies of the
general strategic situation"
The nature OF the Information up
on which the opinion is based is not
disclosed. It is noted that fresh Ger
man divisions have arrived on the
western front and the German lines
are said to be approaching the point
In density beyond which it would be
impossible to go without checking
communication lines and hampering
free movement Of reserves Apparent
ly. however, this concentration has
come to be regarded as a defensive,
not an offensive movement.
American Activities.
Much Of the statement is devoted
to the activities of American troops,
now engaged on five separate fronts.
one of the sectors lying close to the
Swiss border. The official communique
however. adds nothing to recently
published press reports OF the raids
and trench fighting in which the Am
ericans have been involved.
Elsewhere on the western front the
experts find no evidence Of impending
major activities by either side. The
period Of inactivity the statement says.
is being prolonged. 1t notes, however.
indications of Austro-German concen-
trations in the Italian theatre which
may forecast assaults on Verona or
Brescia as their objectives.
Official Statement.
The statement follows:
The period of inactivity in the west
is being prolonged
Though the raids now taking place
would in the past have been consider
ed important engagements. neverthe-
less, owing to the fact that they are
merely of minor tactical value. they
cannot be held to be major operations.
while hostile preparations for an
offensive in the west are not slacken-
ing, it is becoming more evident that
the enemy will launch this offensive
only If compelled to do SO by the
exigencies OF the general strategic sit
uation.
While fresh German divisions are
reported as arriving in the west it is
important to note that the density OF
enemy forces has nearly reached Il
point beyond which it will be imprac-
ticable to go. for should any large ad-
dition body of men be nassed the
chances are that the congestion Of the
lines OF commune alton will become so
great as to make il impossible to main
tain the flexibility of maneuver which
is so essential.
Our own forces in France have
been constantly in action.
Our troops are now in the trenches
at five different points.
This week We undertook our first
assault against German positions un-
assited by any allied contingent