The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-20
POWERFUL BODY I
PREPARES VITAL
MOVE N FRANCE
New Weapon Has Been
Forged During Winter
for Spring Offensive.
DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN
HUN COMMAND IDEA
Blows on Enemy Lines Win
be Made With Greatest
Military Care.

Washington, March l9.--The key to
the 1918 riddle Of the western battla
front In In the hands OF the suurernc
war council at Versailles.
Decision M to the time and place OF
major offences by the allies rests with
that body.
II directly controls also, officials
here believe. new weapon forged dur.
Ing the winter with which to make
effective ks plans OF grand strategy.
That weapon is believed to Ne ia /,
pooling OF the army reserves OF ~ the
allies armies, permitting overwhelming
concentrations at selected points OF at-
tack.
Auns On Defensive.
American observers now are CON-
vlnced the German high coinnaand
plans defensive campaign ana that
the long talked OF drive on Paris or
the channel ports has been abandoned.
The initiative, according to this view.
rests with the allied and American
forces Communicates are being close
~ scanned for tho first indication OF
any offensive operations mapped out at
Versailles.
The supreme council was created
under the urgent inslstence Of presi-
dent Wilson for aggressive action thia
year, based on CO. ordinated plnnS and
under the direction Of u single agency.
The exact scope OF the councils au-
thofity mas never been disclosed. It
was said both by Premier Lloyd George
and by Lord Curxon. however, In ex-
planning the status Of the British Inn
perial general staff and the commnn-
der in the field. Sir Douglas Haig. that
certain British forces had been as
signed to the councils control.
Plan Vital DleWs.
Decision by the war council, OFF,
GERS hero believe az to the field where
these and similar forces from other
armies are TO be concentrated. VIII
show where allied blows at the Ger
man defenses are designed to fall. Il
there Is to be no German drive, al tho
war department predicted yesterday In
Its weekly war review, the council will
not be forced TO hold Its reyerves for
defensive purposes and can devote this
new agency TO attempts TO smash wenk
points In the German liAe.
Opinion as to the sectors offering the
best opportunity for allied assaults
varies widely here. There In substan-
tial agreement. however. that the ltAl-
ian front may in fact become the mairl
| theater OF war this year. Austro-
German concentrations and possible
loffensiyes on that front. also noted BY
the weekly summary. may represent
the recognition Of this view by the
German high command.
In any event even though the su :
preme council might have decided ia
make the effort TO break through In
Italy, II is believed the first move In
the game would be played in France
and Flanders. Drives with all the aTs.
pearance Of being the real offenxtvcs
would undoubtedly accompany or pre-
cede the main thrust.
| The pooled allied reserves under Sii
rection of the supreme council would
make possible campaign Of such ma
ture, designed 10 keep the German
command perplexed as to which az.
sanlt would be driven home In Ina
position, adequate German forces o
selected troops would necessarily b.
held ready 10 support either une. ans
they must be held somewhere In Ger,
many with ready transportation avail
able in either direction.