Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-28
Sec'yBaker' Weekly
 Military Review
WARNS THAT GERMANS ARE PRE-
 PAIRING U-RoAT OFFENSIVE
AGAINST U. s. LINES
Attaches Great Military Significance to the Victory of the British Over the Turkish Naval Forces Off the DardaneIes.

Washington, an 27.--Warning that tine Germans are preparing for great submarine offensive against the Amer ican lines of communication with France in connection with the impend- ing Teutonic drive against the west front is given by Secretary Baker in his weekly military review made pub lie tonight by the war department. Recently there has been a marked decrease in the number of allied mer- chant ships sunk by submarines. The explanation for this is found in the withdrawal of submarines in prepara- ton for the coming thrust on iand and sea- The review says:
 As the time draws near when once again the enemy will endeavor to strike a decisive blow in the west, it ! must be emphasized that he will not be content with mere military opera tions on large scale.
 U-Boats Are Being Refitted. During the past fortnight enemy l submarines have been recalled to home ports to be re-fitted and the most pow erful submarine offensive hitherto un- l dertaken may be expected to be launched against our lines of commu- nication with France, to interrupt the steady flow of men and munitions for our own armies and food supplies for 1 the allies
 | During the period under review, re- neWed activity along the entire west ern front is noted.
 "The region bordering the North Sea has once, again become the scene
 of severe fighting.
 Bomhardment of Ostend. "A careful CO., ordinated operation undertaken by British monitors actins
 in concert with larE batteries in tht
 area north of Ypres subjected the Ger.
 man defenses of Ostend and surround
 ing country to a severe bombardment "No infantry action was attemptet
 in this sector by the British, but fate
 in the week the Germans reacted
 sharply and directed a strong assaul
 against the short sector of the fine il
 the dune area. which fringes the coas in the vicinity of Nieuport This at
 tack, which must be considered some
 thing more than a simple raid brok
 into the French lines and for brie
 period, the enemy detachments wer able Tfo hold their ground in the ad
 panced French outposts The Irene
 speedily brought up fresh forces, drov
 out the enemy and were able to re-es tablish themselves in their former DO sitions without difficulty.
 ! "In the Italian theatre the import ance of the successful French assaul in the region of the Monte Tomba thre weeks ago is proven by the retreat C the enemy in this area. Enemy Retreating in Italy. "The enemy has abandoned an ex , tensive tract of terrain north of tn
 Monte Tomba extending to the Play, , The Austrian lines now rest on tll Monte Spinoncia r Tt would appear that the enemy ha for the time being abandoned his at tempt to break through this cham, s to the plain ,i ''The Austrians, while strong in tn s sector. nevertheless no longer directl t threaten the key positions of the Ita l ian line. The increasing liveliness 3 enemy artillery in the Val Lagarin 9 is recorded. It is apparent that tl Austrians are carrying out their plar : of shifting their center of attack ful l ther to the west.
 IT "The Val Lagarina offers peculie e attraction for an invasion of Italy. V is a classic path of invaders comir Y from the north. We may expect tn;
 should the opportunity seem favors s h!e, the' enemy may attempt an opers t ton ill this area
 I Reports reach us of the increasir t restiveness of the Slav population v Austria, more particularly the Czech e "The general strike in Vienna ar e other upheavals throughout the Moi S archy are assuming serious proportion n and they are no longer to be held
 mere internal interest, but will inev
 tablv react on the general polite
 situation.
 'In Russia peace negotiations fa, '' continued with frequent interruption
 "In Palestine the British are extend ing their lines to the north and du
 ing the week advanced further in u
 neighborhood of Durah on a fronta, y of approximately four miles. e British Naval Victory. " "The victory of the British over u 6 Turkish naval forces off the Dardane a les must be mentioned as an event = especially military significance. . Observers coming from Constant If nople very recently informed us tn . as long as Constantinople remain, a under the guns of the former Germs = cruisers Goeben and Mreslau, t s Turks would necessarily continue u IF der the domination of the Germans"
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