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Show I SECRETARY BAKER REVIEWSrwEffi: m if aro maintaining an expectant attitude M .on tho western front, Secretary Baker 'C 'stated today in his weekly war roviow, J'iJf 'while present events in Russia have I'l Igrcatly increased strategic freedom for I tho Central empires. tr The review is for the week . ending ''i! January 19. It says: Y , "There is llttlo to record in the way , 'J; ' of military activity during the past 1. k week. On the western front the Allies A ! are maintaining an expectant attitude. . ' Enemy Concentrating Forces. "While tho enemy has been concen-'i concen-'i i, trating his offensive forces, the Brit- ! , Ish and French have greatly strength- f oned defenslvo dispositions, re-organ- ' I ization of their tactical arrangements , i in many areas, as thoy were hlth-erlo, hlth-erlo, chiefly of on offensive cbarac-tor cbarac-tor and aro now prepared for every ! eventuality. . "Tho recent events In Russia which I H- I have removed from tho theater of ac-j ac-j tlve operations over 900 miles of front ) , in the cast, the invasion of Italy and 'i the consequent shortening of tho bat-t bat-t Hj' , tie lino in this zone by nearly 150 i .1 miles have resulted in greatly in-;jl in-;jl ;, creased strategic freedom for the Genii Gen-ii I ! tral empires. :ii'. "Reviewing the minor operations -I;;, t which took place during tho period ' i under examination, it is noticeable ' ". that ascendant initiative and alertness , ' is again displayed by tho Allies. . f' , "We find the British and French ac-j ac-j tivcly raiding the German linos, driv-I driv-I ' i i Jng in outposts and patrols. ( "Along tho British front the enemy ' , for the first time in many weeks niain-lj niain-lj .' talned a relatively passive attitude.! ' fi Tho British sent out numerous raiding ty ' parties. jf ' Break East of Loos, 'ty , "East of Loos, in tho shell-torn ter- r' (f 1 rain, the scene of such fierce fighting tVH during tho past summer, a sharply PI1? ! conducted operation by the British was 'i i f brought to a successful conclusion. : V jj J Tho British broke into tho German line and captured a number of prisoners. prison-ers. "North of St. Quentin and cast of Morlcourt tho British had brushes with tho enemy which resulted favorably. "In the neighborhood of Lens a Canadian detachment launched a raid against the Germans, which was crowned with success. This undertaking under-taking was carried out with the usual Canadian dash and not only wero the Canadians able to ponotrate the enemy'B positions but thoy hold them as long ns they deemed expedient and only retired after inflicting serious damago and taking prisoners. "Southwest of Armentiercs the the enemy advanced against a British outpost but was speedily driven back. "Artillery activity vas nqted in the Ypres section and enemy firo was lively live-ly in tho area south of the Cambral salient. Air Raldc Numerous. 'Air raids in hostile territory were numerous, not only in tho theater of operations where Gorman ammunition dumps in the region of Roulcrs and railheads and cantonments in Flanders Flan-ders proved good targets, but daylight attacks by aircraft in force were carried car-ried out against German cities. Tho raids on Karlsruhe proved particularly particular-ly effective. "In the Italian theater the successes of tho preceding week have been enlarged en-larged and extended. "The Italians made along three separate segments of the line a series lot formidable assaults which resulted in a decided advantago for their forces. 1 Attack East of Silc. "The first attack was made cast of Cape Sile in the Piavo delta, which brought about a material extension of the Italian bridgehead along the lower Piave. "The second In the region between the Monte Tomba and the Monte So-larolo So-larolo was a tactical gain of positive value in that It greatly strengthened i the Italian position in this area. "Third and by far the most important impor-tant undertaking resulted in bringing about a rectification of Italian dispositions dis-positions in tho Monte Aoolonc sector, j which rendered secure trench elements heretofore noted void of serious weakness. weak-ness. Last Achievement Important. "This last achievement must be looked upon as of essential significance signifi-cance in that it has removed the men-, aco of the enemy being able to turn tho Italian flank in the region of the Monto Grappa. The only re-action on the part of tho enemy took place in tho Piavo delta, where tho Austrlanu attempted to regain the ground lost east of Capo Silo. Tbo enemy was driven back without gaining any of his objectives and suffered sevoro casualties. cas-ualties. It would Beem that it is now clear tho pressure of tho Austrians in this area has been materially lesseneu. "Artillery was intermittently active along the entire front and the British batteries rendered good service in the Montello sector. Aviators Keep Busy. "Clear weather favored the task of the aviators. Numerous hostilo air raids took place, directed against var-1 lious centers in the Venetian plain, I close to the fighting area. I "The enemy was busy bombing undefended un-defended Italian towns. Padun and I Treviso being attack in broad daylight day-light and numerous encounters be-twoen be-twoen Austrian and Italian airmen wore recorded. "In Russia a deadlock In the peace negotiations of Brest-Lltovsk has again been reported. "Tho British forces were active in tho Palestine theater. General Allenby has strengthened his defensive position posi-tion and extended his lines. Frequent patrol encounters aro noted. The enemy is being cleared out of villages north of Jerusalem and a firmer hold on the Holy City is thus assured." |