Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-04
is OFFICIAL
W0RD.C GIVEN
BY WAR HEAD
Bakers Announces Move
Says Allies Outnumber
Germans in West.

tVsAs NUs Hs-Vv ~ 0A0
the nation not to let reports OF
strikes and other internal disturb.
ances In Germany slacken its war
preparations, Secretary Baker In
his weekly military review today
also makes the official announce.
ment that American troops are at
last holding a portion Of the ac-
tual battle front.
For the first time, also, Secre.
tary Baker declares that It Is fully
believed the allies have q prepOn.
derance Of men and guns on the
western front. despite the fact
strengthened by troops from the
Russian field. Secretary Baker
declared the reports Of numerical
superiority have. been spread BY
the enemy himself.
Reviewing operations for the week
ending Feb. 2, Secretary Baker says:
American troops, which have now
completed their training. are occupy
ing a portion of the acaual battle
front. The operations in which our
troops have so far been engaged were
of q minor character.
ION Jan. 80. the Germans attempted
a strongly pushed raid against our
line for purposes of identification.
Under cover of a heavy mist the en-
envy was able to reach our advanced
position. A short brush ensued and
the raiders were compelled to with
draw in haste. after inflicting slight
casualties.
Enemy is Dispersed.
1.-TWO days later the enemy appar-
emily attempted another reconnoiter-
ing thrust but was dispersed before
any Roadway could be made.
Our patrols have been active in
No Mans land and our scouts have
made themselves familiar with the de-
tails of the hostile positions opposite
them.
Another event of Importance took
place in France The inter-allied SUI
preme war council at Versailles,
attended by General Bliss. chief Of
staff of the army, and General Per-
shfng as well as the representatives
|of France. Great Britain and Italy.
Complete and closer cooperation be-
tween the allies and ourselves. and a
harmonious understanding between
the supreme commands of all the
forces engaged. promises to show pos
tive results. Unity Of purpose on all
fronts will thus be attained.
Warns Against German Crisis.
During the past seven days. period
the world has been flooded with the
news of very serious internal unrest
in Germany. Widespread strikes
among munitions workers are re-
ported. While dissatisfaction is no
doubt rife in Germany and strikes of
increasing seriousness have occurred,
we must not allow any reported dis
turbance within the German empire
to affect the effectiveness or speed Of
our own preparations.
During the week hostile concen-
trations in the west continued. In
certain quarters the reports spread by
the enemy. that he holds preponder-
ance numerical superiority In the
west, have gained some credence
While positive proof has been received
that the enemy has removed troops
from the eastern theatre and is strip
ping other fronts for the coming
struggle in the west. nevertheless the
allies are believed still to hold very
appreciable numerical superiority
both in men and guns.
British Troops In Raids.
I'm the British theatre numerous
raids took place. The British forces
were also busily engaged sounding the
enemy line, identifying new units,
taking measure OF the value OF the
new contingents which are arriving
along the German line in the west
from other theatres.
Hostile artillery kept up q heavy
fire throughout the week in the Ypres
and Cambria salients.
The French were also busy raid.
ing the enemy and kept a careful out.
look along their entire front. Oppo.
site the French. the Germans con.
fined operations to minor raids north
OF the Aisne and upper Alsace
Weather FavOrs Air Attacks.
"Profiting by the favorable atmos'
| pheric conditions which prevailed. ali
raids on a large scale were undertak.
en-. The British successfully bombed
+ railway centers in Flanders and all
squadrons undertook attacks upon
munitions plants and other military
/ detectives in the Rhine area. London
and Paris, as well as Dunkirk. Calais
and Bouiogne were visited by hostile
aircraft.
in Italy a further improvement In
/ the combat situation Ia noted. Tho
Italians were very successful IN fol.
lowing up their plans to regain points
OF particular strategic importance
along their battle front.
THE Italians succeeded In capturing
The hostile strongholds OF the import
ant peaks OF the Col Del ItoeaO and
the Monte Di Val Bella, and took one