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Show ALLIES HME A Believed to Have More Men and Guns Than Enemy on West Line. GERMANS RUSHING MEN Stripping Every Other Front to Contend With Allies on West Front. WASHINGTON. Feb. 4. Warning the nation not to let reports of strikes and other Internal disturbances In Germany slacken its war preparations, Secretary Baker in his weekly military review today, also makes the official announcement that American troops are at last holding a portion of the actual battle front. For the first time also, Secretary Baker declares it Is fully belioved that the AHScs have a preponderance of men and guns on tho western front, despito the fact that the German line has been strengthened by 'troops from the Russian Held. Secretary Baker declared the reports of numerical superiority su-periority havo been spread by tho enemy himself. Reviewing operations for the week ending February 2, Secrotary Baker says: Americans in Actual Fighting. "American troops which have now completed their training are occupying occupy-ing a portion of the actual battle front. The operations in which our troops have so far been engaged were of a minor character. "On January 30 the Germans attempted at-tempted a strongly pushed raid against our line for purposes of identiGcation. Under cover of a heavy mist the enemy was able to reach our advanced positions. posi-tions. A short brush ensued and the raiders were compelled to withdraw In haste after inflicting slight casualties. "Two days later the enemy apparently appar-ently attempted another reconnolterlng thrust but was dispersed before any headway could be made. Active in No Man's Land. "Our patrols huvo been active in No Man's Land and our scouts havo made themselves familiar with tho details of tho hostile, positions opposite them. "Another event of importance took placo in France. The inter.-Allied supreme su-preme war council met at Versailles, attended by General Bliss, chief of staff of the array, and General Pershing, Persh-ing, as well as the representatives of Great Britain, Italy and France. Complete Com-plete co-operation between tho Allies and- oilrsclves and a harmonious understanding un-derstanding between all tho commands com-mands of all tho forces engaged, promises prom-ises to show results. Unity of pur pose on all fronts will be attained. Serious Unrest in Germany. "During tho past seven day period the world has been flooded with tho npws of very serious unrest in Germany. Ger-many. Widespread strikes among munitions mu-nitions workers are reported. While dissatisfaction is no doubt rife in Germany Ger-many and strikes of increasing seriousness ser-iousness have occurred, we mu3t not allow any reported disturbance within with-in the German empire to affect tho effectiveness, ef-fectiveness, or speed, of our preparations. prepara-tions. "During the week hostile concentrations concentra-tions in the west continued. In certain quarters tho reports spread by the J enemy that he holds a prepondcrous numerical superiority in the west have gained more credence. While positive proof has been received that tho enemy has removed troops from the eastern theater, and is stripping other fronts for the coming struggle in "the west, nevertheless, tho Allies are believed still to hold a very appreciable numerical num-erical superiority both in men and guns." Numerous Raids Occur. "In tho British theater numerous raids took placo. British forces sounded sound-ed the enemy line, Identifying new units arriving In the west from other theaters. "The French also raided the enemy and kept a careful lookout along their front Opposite the French the Germans Ger-mans confined operations to minor raids north of the Aisno and Upper Alsace. "Profiting by tho favorable atmospheric atmos-pheric conditions the British successfully success-fully bombed railway centors in Flanders Flan-ders and air squadrons undertook nt-tacks nt-tacks upon munition plants and other military objectiyes in tho Rhino area. London and Paris as well as Dunkirk, 1 Calais and Boulogne were visited by hostile aircraft. Improvement In Italy. "In Italy a further improvement in their operations is noted. The Italians wore successful In their plans to ro-gain ro-gain positions of strategic importance along their battle front. As a counterpart counter-part of the French assault in tho region re-gion of the Monte Tomba. the Italians launched a powerful offensive thrust against tho Austrian positions along the Asiago plateau. "The Italians captured the hostile strongholds of tho important peaks of Col del Rosso and the Monto di Vnl Bella, which resulted in an appreciable kn Wir bd'j Hi uecemncr auu uiuu uu.u u laif sitions is rendered more secure. t i "In Palestine the British are pas ing. slowly but steadily forward, fc; j r larging their sphere of operations i-- j-consolidating j-consolidating tho ground won. , i oo v |
