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Show Food Pledge Week Begins With ' I , . Half Million Securing Pledges I WASHINGTON, Oct. 29. Important developments aro impending in the great war, Secretary Baker indicates in his olllclal review of last week's operations op-erations on all fronts, which concludes with tho brief statement that certain units of the American forces in France have taken their places on the battle-front battle-front to complete their training, This Is the war department's first mention of tho fact that General Pershing's men aro on the firing line. It Is tho wavo of nctlvity during the week on nearly every front, however, that caught the secretary's attention. Significant operations arc in progress, ho says, both enst and west, on the Italian fronts, in Macedonia, Rumania, Mesopotamia and even in East Africa. On the western front ho said a newj strategic retreat of tho German forces! ! appears to be the next move expected ! and they must move back under critical crit-ical circumstancos from between the two wedges, those of the Flanders and tho Aisue which havo been driven relentlessly re-lentlessly into their lino by tho British and French. Italy is passing through a difficult moment. Mr. Baker says. The Austro-German drive is being pressed forward by the invading forces. Before Italy stemmed the tide of an Austrian rush under loss favorable conditions for them, he points out, and hurled the enomy back with only a taste of victory vic-tory "during tho first days of his terrific ter-rific onslaught. Winter is now coming to the aid of tho Italians. Secretary Baker's Review. Tho secretary's review in part follows fol-lows : "Tho two outstanding featuros of I the week are the relentless offensive IH of the British in the Ypres salient re- IH suiting in substantial gains of terrain IH of important strategic values and the fl sudden aimed and sustained thrust of the French north of the Aisne. "Tho enemy, believing he might find fl a rift in the otherwise impregnable al-lied al-lied line at the point of junction of tho British-France forces, directed repeat- Jf ed heavy counter-attacks in this seg-ment, seg-ment, These were repulsed. Results of Three Days' Fight. fl "In threo days fighting the French have taken 12,000 prisoners, 120 guns of largo caliber, and a great quantity of other booty. "Tho possession of tho capturo fort of Malmnlson, tho key to the entiro ( Continued on Page 4 ) (Continued From Pago 1) ridge and the villages beyond, now j makes it possible for tho French to enfilade en-filade tho German positions along the Chomin des Dames as well as to fire directly through the valley towards the fortress of Laon. Tho time apparently has come for another 'strategic retreat' of the enemy. . It means that the Germans Ger-mans must again retire to a new entrenched en-trenched and carefully prepared line if they Intend to resist further in the west. German Retreat Skillful. "It must be admitted that tho German Ger-man 'retreat' executed as a result of tho battles of the Sorame last year was carried through with consumato skill. Tho enemy retired i destroying all cover and taking up positions of marked tactical and strategic strength. "But the battle of the Sommo had but one wedge. Today wo have the wedge of Flanders and that of the Aisne is being outlined.' Bad Weather Aids Enemy. "The bad 'weather continues to be j the enemy's best protection. He is re- lying upon this factor to impede the ? allied advance and by shrouding tho ii battle aro in slush, rain and fog. give him a respite until he can prepare himself to meet a fresh onslaught. "News from the Italian front proves e that the Austrians wore ablo to bring j j sufficient pressure to bear in Berlin in order to secure German assistance. Victory on Italian Front. "As the result of the concentration of an immense amount of artillery and massed battalions, tho AuBtro-Germans have succeeded in penetrating the recently re-cently won positions in the Tolmlno sector. "Italy is passing through a difficult moment. We must remember, however, howev-er, that In May, 1916, the Austrians attempted at-tempted a similar onslaught. Then they had fine weather, a well chosen terrain and. above all, the far superior Qghtlng vigor of their armies to rely upon. At that tirao the Austrians won lecided successes during tho Initial lays of the fighting and pressed on tho edge of the Italian plain, only to be stopped and driven back. "In Uie east German naval operations in the vicinity of the islands at the mouth of the Finnish Gulf were not carried through. The Germans using he islands as a base have now gained 1 foothold on the mainland. "The first landing on the Worder peninsula on the northern end of th? Gulf of Riga, was successfully carried fl out A further attempt at anotho? W point failed. Ml Engagements on East Fronts. Ml "Engagements of some magnitude !K are noted along the Rumanian and Ma- cedonian fronts, where duels and raidi jH are increasing in frequency. Theso fj however, are not of more than locaj 1 N importance In Mespotamia the Briv IV ish are continuing and consolidating I their advance, driving enemy detach- 1 ; ments out of important tactical pointu on the flanks, thus strengthening theii U whole line of defense. "Rumors of an important move by V the Turks, reinforced by certain pick- ed German and Austrian units under wL Xho command of General Falkenhayn IWSt which repeatedly have been reported iBi- throughout tho near east have as yol ' failed to materialize. j-! "The training of our troops ft ril France proceeds steadily and favor ably. Certain units have taken thelj U places in the front line trenches un- der actual battle conditions." A |