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Published Under Auspices
of
National War Work Council
Y.M.C.A. of the United States
Vol. 1.
SECRETARY BAKER’S
WEEKLY REVIEW
Declares That Germany’s In
sidious Peace Propaganda
Shall Not Cause Slacking of
War Preparations.
Washington, D. C.—Germany’s new
est peace propaganda, viewed as a fore
runner to an offensive in the west un
less German-made peace is accepted by
the allies and the United States “should
not for a moment induce us to slacken
our preparations for war,” says Sec
retary Baker today in his weekly re
view of the military situation.
“The Germans realize,’ ’continues the
statement, “that within a short time
our armies will form the principal body
of fresh strategic reserves remaining
available on the battlefields of Europe.
“Our armies constitute the reserves
of victory.”
The review points out that the fight
ing morale of Italians may be relied I
on no matter how intensive the Ger
man pace campaign becomes and says."
“The Italian theater once again is the
scene of important military activity.
“The enemy impatient of the delays
which have occurred in bringing about
the successful penetration of the Ital
ian plain and the overthrow of the
italian armies, has dispatched further
forces to the Italian front with a view
to achieving a decisive result.
German Endeavor.
“The Germans are endeavoring to
follow the precepts of classic strategy
and by a successful enveloping move
ment to effect the destruction of the
Italian and allied forces.
“It would appear that they are anx
oius to conclude their Italian adven
ture in a manner similar to the prev
ious campaigns of Russia, Serbia and
Rumania where, as a result of the
strategic developments gained at rela
tively small costs, vast tracts of ter
ritory were conquered.
“Enemy pressure continues intense
along the entire front.
“The Germans hope to drive the Ital
ians back to the Adige, anticipating
that such a reverse would have a very
disintegratin ginfluence throughout all
Italy.
“It is apparent that the Germans
have not given up all hope of bringing
about a social upheaval in Italy, as
they did in Russia after their victo
rious campaigns of 1915.
“No matter how intensive this new
subservise propaganda may be. never
theless w cn coenfidently rely on the
fighting morale of the Italian people.
“Along the western front the enemy
has continued his harrassing raids with
a view to keeping the allied forces on
the alert. However, none of the engage
ments recorded in the west were of
more than local importance.
“It would appear that as a fore
runner to the German offensive her
alded to be launched in the west, an
intensive peace propaganda is to be
initiated.
"Careful examination of the situation
reveals that the enemy is again prepar
ing to sue for “peace before victory.”
Information from various sources
confirms the reports that the Germans
would have the world believe that the
military situation as such that they are
able to dictate the terms of peace.
They, therefore, threaten that unless
this dictated peace is accepted by the
allied powers and ourselves, the Ger
man forces now being concentrated on
the western front will break through
the allied line in the west.
“The various reports of immediate
peace proposals by the Germans on
seemingly favorable? terms should not
for a moment induce us to slacken our
preparations for war.
“It is only necessary for Us to recall
that during the Christmas season of
last year the Germans put forth very
similar peace rumors.
the general military
situation in its true light, it myst be;
understood that the Germans realize
that within a short time our armies
will form the prine'pal body of fresh
strategic reserves remaining availab v
THE AUGUSTA HERALD
Edition for. CAMP HANCOCK Augusta, Ga.
SECRETARY BAKER’S
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
■■II! ■■ lEWR I 111
Pral iw" W’ 1 '! 1 ?!"’' 1 III!
jl jj|l' 1
Wh. 1 Christmas Message Wt ||||lllllj
.0 I* .■ TK TONE .but lofty purposes and jlyfl iVnu
Hllllllll IN exalte d motives could jus- ’
Imyllll Gfy the keeping of hundreds sp
HMKI of thousands of men from their {j
1 'BS J homes and families at this time Mi O|i jl
IW® of Christmas, but the measure of fflli ||||
that sacrifice will be the measure
also of the triumphant achieve- I w |
H ment that will follow it. ] M
jjl There is mighty comfort in the ' nl Ml
: | knowledge that the history of ffl
Jadal these days will make a record I II jU
■W not unworthy of the proud tradi- I 111
sfey tion of our past when again there I II
IQar is peace on earth. ’B I
NEWTON D. BAKER, 'll
' Secretary of War. [
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UH
i 11
Major General Muir Wishes All
A Merry Christmas
BY MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES H. MUIR,
COMMANDER 28th DIVISION.
Christmas is with us once again—the happiest,
holiest day of all the year—the day that brings more
gladness and joy into human lives in Christian lands than
all other days put together.
For almost 2,000 years, the Christinas spirit has
been developing. It is far from perfect today; but yet
there is a great concerted effort to bring happiness and
joy into the world. The murderous slaughter in Eu
rope and Asia is an abnormal growth on the life of the
nations, which, when removed, will restore us purged
and purified and more exalted in our ideals of service
than ever before.
As we gather about the mess table, our thoughts
will go out to other days; to our dear ones who may be
far away; to the friends back home; and we may feel
assured they will be thinking of us, and through the
ether there will come to us their messages of good cheer,
of remembrance, of future success, that shall sanctify
the day in this crucial moment of our history.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
for action on the battlefields of Eu
rope.
“It is our duty, therefore, tn looking
to the future, to realize that if we are
to fulfill the pledge we made on enter
ing the war,, if we are to fight this
war to a successful conclusion, we must
assume the full responsibility which
rests upon us.
“We are the freshest in the struggle;
we have the reserve man power and the
reserve mechanical power,
“Our armies constitute the reserves
DECEMBER 24, 1917
of victory.
“In Russia ,the armistice negotia-’
tions having been concluded peace ne
gotiations are about to be entered upon.
“Reports of the dissatisfaction of a
large element of the Russian popula
tion', especially in southern and cen
tral Russia, with the terms of the ar
mistice has led to the formation of
active opposition which it is bejieved
will endeavor to resist all attempts to
enforce the proposals agreed to by the
Lenine government.”
ARMY NEWS
FOR ARMY MEN
AND
THEIR HOME FOLKS
MONDAY, TUESDAY,
WEDNESDAY, HOLIDAYS
Captain Baker, of the British
Army, Introduces Application
of Masks. Sixteenth Week of
Training Begins.
The approaching holiday season finds
the men of the Twenty-Eighth Division
about to enjoy a period of well-earnea
rest and recreation from the intensive
training to which they have been sub
jected since their first steps in Camp
Hancock. From the splendid exhibi
tions on all sides, it can be seen that
the men are moving nearer the goal
of perfection steadily, and without ex
ception, results have been more than
gratifying to the energetic officers who
have spared no effort in this purpose.
With the coming of their sixteenth
week of training, the Artillery Brigade
under General Price will have covered
I a well-defined course of range work,
having demonstrated their qualifica
tions in t,hat direction before their
practice ceased.
Many of the Infantry units have had
several days’ practice on the rifle range
and the spirit displayed by all hands
promises the closest margins in the
final tally. The men -have been im
pressed with the importance of their
piece, and have taken hold with de
termination to win.
Under the supervision of Captain
Baker of the British Military Mission,
several of the units have been intro
duced to the novelty of applying the
masks which are such a necessary part
of trench warfare. This work will be
continued for several weeks.
Probably the most spectacular ex
hibitions of bayonet practice were given
at the reservoir last week under the
direction of Captain Ryan of the Brit
ish Mission. The men are learning the
new drill in splendid fashion, and are
perfecting themselves rapidly.
The Infantry regiments, under the
Division Engineer Officer, have com
pleted a section of trenches which will
be put in practical use in the execu
tion of the program for the future.
Considerable practice was had in the
building of bridges and in reconnois
sance work.
During the past few days, the men
of the Fie’d Hospital have done some
clever work pitching and removing the
hospital tents to various parts of the
drill ground of the Sanitary Train.
The men struck one of the large tents
and stored it on the wagon in exactly
eight minutes.
The Field Signal Battalion enjoyed
some unusual w-ork in field signaling
while attached to the artillery brigade
on the range.
The new units arriving in camp are
quartered on the site of the former
55th Infantry Brigade. A number of
the men are in quarantine for obser
vation purposes.
Major General Muir has ordered that
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday be
observed throughout the Division as
holidays, with the dropping of all work
except that which is absolutely essen
tial. The government has arranged
that each man in the Division shall
have not less than one pound of tur
key, with all the other accompanying
delicacies, for his Christmas dinner.
Many of the mess halls have been
beautified for the occasion.
The Christmas message of Major
General Muir will be found elsewhere
in this issue.
PROGRAM FOR
JEWISH BOYS
On Tuesday evening, there wpl be
l a dance at Alliance Hall, at 8:15, to
which the men at Camp Hancock are
invited.
Friday evening, services will be held
at Y. M. C. A. Tent 80, at 6:45 sharp.
The Open Forum will meet at the
Alliance Hall Sunday afternoon at 2:30
and a treat is in store.
Every evening the Alliance Hall is
open for the soldiers at Camo Hancock
and an invitation is given the boys to
call. A. B. KURTZ,
Representative J. B. W. W.
No. 12
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