Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-05
OF BATTLE
INCREASING IN WEST
War Departments Review of
Fighting Says Huns Are
Being Reinforced

preparatory movements on the part of
the Germans along the western front are
noted today by the war department in
its review of the military situation for
the week ending March 2. The momen-
tum of battle is increasing, the state
ment declares. citing three attempts by
the enemy to reach the lines held by
American troops, as an example of what
is taking place ION larger scale along
the entire western front"
The definite announcement is made
that American forces have taken over
a sector northwest of Toul and that a
number of detached units are in action
in the Champagne.
Operations in the eastern theater are
expected to affect events in France,
through a modification of German plans,
the review intimates. Six Teuton col
umns are operating in Russia and to
only one Of these-the column moving
towards Vitebsk-is any opposition
noted.
Turkish forces advancing into the
Caucasus are meeting with little resist
ance, and are massacring Armenian resi-
dents of the districts retaken from the
Russians.
The review follows:
The third month Of relative qui-
escence on the western front has come
to a close. During this period both
beligerent groups have been massing
their forces.
There is evidence that the enemy
continues to bring'up fresh units Ow-
ing to transportation difficulties this has
been a slow and laborious process.
Council in Session
"The allied war council is now in con-
tinuous session, assuring complete unity
and flexibility of control
1.-THE British have extended their
front.
"Our own forces have taken over a
sector northwest of Toul. In addition,
a number of our detached units are in
action in Champagne and the momen-
tum of battle is increasing.
I'VE have but to note the occurrences
of the past week in our own sector in
Lorraine in order to gain an idea of
what is taking place. Patrols have been
very active. Early in the week the enc
ny made two attempts to reach our
lines, but was driven off by machine
gun fire. on March 1 the enemy de-
veloped a sharply-driven attack. After
short struggle the hostile detach-
ment was repulsed.
"The Germans are now using gas
along our front. Our men are becoming
accustomed to this weapon. Our gas
masks are efficiently protective. Our ar
tillery was very busy Smelling enemy
dispositions, and inflicted considerable
damage on gun and mortar emplace
ments.
important troop movements took
place behind the German lines opposite
our front.
I'm spite of. the low visibility, hostile
aircraft continued active and made fire.
quent 'ncursions over our lines.
TN the region OF the Chemin des
Danes lively encounters took place A
French raid against the German out
posts, in which number of American
volunteers participated, was very sue
cessfully carried through.
Ene1ny's Enterprise Fails
ION February "a the French executed
a coup de main. destroying hostile de-
fensive works and shelters near Aspach
in upper Alsace Small raids in Cham
payne and Lorraine were also record
ed The enemy also was driven back
while attempting to react in the vicini-
ty of the Butt du Mesnil and the Chemin
des Danes.
The bOldest enterprise undertaken
by the enemy during the week took
place north of Dixmude. Here, after
prolonged artillery preparations, the
enemy endeavored to throw a bridge
across the User. The Belgians success
fully prevented six consecutive at
tempts to push this operation to a sue
cessful conclusion.
The new trend of events in Russia
have no doubt modified German plans
to a certain degree. For the time be-
ing the enemy continues to advance
eastward Following the highways and
railroads six columns of invasion along
a 700 mile front are operating in care
full coordination. In Esthonia the en-
envy has reached a point approximately
100 nies from Petrograd. In Livonia,
Jurjev, 100 miles east Of Riga has been
entered. The column moving on Niteosk
is advancing at an average rate or
sixteen miles daily and has passed be.
yond Pskov This force has met with
some opposition. After the capture Of
Minsk the hostile army operating in
tbs area continued it's advance and is
apparently headed for Smolensk and its
ultimate objective, should it continue
TO find it's course unimpeded, would be
TO cut off AMI possibly occupy Mos
COW.
PetrOgrad May Resist
The fifth cCldmn, operating in the
Pripet sector, is also converging on
Smolensk with Moscow as a final OBJ
jective. The sixth column composed Of
Austrian forces operating IN Nolhynit
has been able to advance more than zoo
miles intu the interior, and Ls reported
10 be within sixty miles OF Keff
THE Russians are believ u to be p-,-
parig to stem the tide of invasion.
Ps,rj grad is being prepared - with
stand siege.
In the Caucasus the reg on from the
Lake of Van to the Blac0 sea is again
in TUrl .sn hands. In the distri:ts re
occupied by the Turks it is stated that
they are massacreing the Armenians.
I'm Palestine the British are -
close contact with the Turks, who are
~etreating northward through the val
ley of the Jorda.'. In Mesopctamla the
British are advancing up the 1uphrates
and have arrived in the vicinity of Hit,
which is reported to have been evacu-
ated by the Turks"