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Show war department; reviewsc0nfl1ct United States Must Be Pre-pared Pre-pared for a New German Ger-man Blow. AMERICANS IN LINE Germans Still Forging Ahead South of the Somme River. WASHINGTON, April 1 Germany ha staked its fortunes on the spring campaign, says the war department's weekly review of the military situation today, and the allies and the United States must be prepared for fresh al lacks at new points if the Teutons fail to achieve victory in the present fighting. "As the German higher command." continued the statement, "is apparently apparent-ly determined to force a decision or prove to his own satisfaction that it is unable to do so. we mtist be prepared in case of bis failure to obtain major results in the present theater of oper ations as he will attempt , further assaults as-saults in adjacent areas." "But despite the successes gained by 'he Germans," says the review, "the i ncm has been unable to force a decision deci-sion and so long as the allies are unable un-able to maneuer with the consistent unity and flexibility which they have shown during the engagements of the last week, so long will victory elude the enemy." The placing of American resources unreservedlv at the disposal of the allies al-lies is noted and the statement announces an-nounces that "such of our troops as have received sufficient training will assume a share of the burden now so valiantly borne by the French and British armies. The review also mentions that American troops are taking their places in other parts of the line, thus relieving veteran French units for emergency service. The department's statement- "The period under review has nat-urallv nat-urallv b en one of anxiety for the allies al-lies Under the pressure exerted by the enemy who has put into action picked shock units, long and careful ly trained in mobile warfare for the particular tasks they were to undertake, under-take, the British have been compelled to give ground. Haig Faces Grave Difficulties. "Field Marshal Haig in the face of grave difficulties has been able to, maintain his basic order of battle at the same time withdrawing his troops to more secure positions. "In Spite of the successes gained.1 the large area of terrain overrun and i the great number of prisoners and war material captured, the enemy has been unable to force a decision. "Though the allies have been com pelhd to retire and the enemy has oc-upi oc-upi ,1 some points of primary strateg- j ic Importance, as long as the allied, armies are able to maneuver with the consistent unity and flexibility which i they have shown during the engagements engage-ments of the last week, so long will J victory elude the enemy. Germans Stake All. ' However, as the German higher command has staked its fortunes on the success of the spring campaign of 1918 ;mil is apparently determined to force to a decision, or prove to its own satisfaction that it is unable to do so, .. mhki hf nren.tred in case of his failure to obtain major results in the present theater of operations, as he will attempl further offensive assaults in adjacent areas. From the tactical standpoint, the most important event has been Frent h participation ki the battle French re- rvea have b en hurried to the scene of action and arrayed along the southern south-ern dank of ihe new salient which the enemy has pushed out stretching from Barrish to Montdidier. "Pierce fighting continues in the Montdidier section where a fresh allied al-lied counter offensive is already outlined out-lined in the vicinity of Lassigny. (North of the Somme the British are holding the enemy on the line running Horn Feuchis through Boiselles. Buc-quy, Buc-quy, Boaumont-Hamel, Albert to Sail-ly-le-Sec.) Germans Forge Ahead. "To the south of the river the Germans Ger-mans are still forging ahead. The thrust towards Amiens is being car- 1 1 1 ,i through with great i igor along the line amel-Mezieres Strong assaults have also been directed against the I point of junction against the Franco-j British forces in the hope of being i able to strike a decisive blow either and roll back either the French or British. "inir own resources have been placed plac-ed unreservedly at the disposal of the allies and our divisions will be used if. when needed. Our troops are taking their places at other places in the line thus relieving French troops for emergency emer-gency service. Trained Americans in Line. "Such of our troops as have received receiv-ed a sufficient amount of training will co-operate with the latter and insofar as they are able will assume a part of the great defense so valiantly being done by the French apd British armies. arm-ies. "Other sectors of the western front not within the immediate radius of the battle front have been relatively j quiescent. The bombardment of Paris by long range gun firing, apparently 75 miles in noted. Austnans Arriving in Italy. "From Italy word reaches that fresh Austrian divisions are arriving along the Italian front, coming from Rumania Ru-mania and important troop movements are taking place in the Val Sugana I Renewed activity along the entire i front is recorded and Austrian were able to conduct a successful operation In the Frenzela valley. "In the eastern theater the Germans are continuing their advance in the Fkraine. A number of engagements are reported in which Austrian forces j were driven back In Siberia, the Im portant railway strategic center, Ur- . kutsk, has fallen into the hands of the enemy and a hostile detachment, believed be-lieved to number approximately 2'1 000, is in full possession of the town. Outlying Theaters of War. "The principal event in the outlying theaters of war took place along the Mesopotamian front where an entire Turkish force was nearly cut to pieces. 22 miles, northwest of Hit. The British have reached a point 4r miles north of j i Hit From Persia comes news of the possibility of the Persians joining I hands with the Central powers. "Turkish units under German leadership lead-ership are believed to he advancing In I the vicinity of Teheran. This must be I taken into consideration owing to the possibility of the enemy executing a j flanking movement against the Brit-ji;h Brit-ji;h operating in Mesopotamia." |
