The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-07-05

London. July 5.-"Only German SOL
diers in open field formations now
stand between the French and the riv-
Maurice. referring to the part of the
river which flows northward to the
east of the sector along which the
French have made their greatest
gains.
The last Of the enemys defensive
works in that sector have been cap
tured by Our allies"
In giving the Associated Press a
summary of the results attained by
the entente allied offensive on the
western front, Major General Maurice,
who is director of military operations
of the imperial general staff. con-
tinued:
Much undeserved obliquity has
been heaped upon the British army by
English, French and American people
because we apparently did nothing to
assist the French in the desperate
fighting at Verdun. But all this time
we were doing the part requested by
General Joffre.
According to this plan. we con-
plies and waited the word for the
grand offensive in which We were to
play our part with the Russians and
Italians, as well as the French.
NATURALLY during these anxious
weeks we. could give out no exciting
news because our deliberate prepara-
tions were not good copy. For certain
| tactical and mora. reasons which need
not be dilated upon, 1t was necessary
that the French should not lose the
east bank of the Meuse, and General
Joffre informed us that he could hold
the positions which command that
part of the river until the end Of June,
so we knew we were going to strike
at the beginning Of July.
"The blow planned by the allied
STATS included offensives by the Rus
SLAMS and Italians which, I do not need
to tell you, already have begun. We
are not disappointed with our own
advance, which we expected to be
slow, and We are enormously pleased
with the wonderful progress made by
the French, who, with comparatively
light losses, are sweeping forward to
the Somme.
1T is quite evident that the Ger
mans were surprised by the strength
Of the French offensive. They evil
IDENTIFY believed our allies would be
kept too busy before Verdun to par
ticipate seriously in the western Of
fensive which they knew was coming.
Consequently, they made extensive
preparations before our front, piling
paritively neglecting the southern Sec
tor dominated by the French. The
Germans anticipating our move,
| brought up great forces, much OF
which consisted Of independent units
called mousqueton battalions, armed
only with light machine guns. 1t was
these battalions which inflicted the
heaviest losses on us.
"Our enemy is brave and resource
full, and put up a desperate defense
especially in the region from Com
mecourt to Fricourt. where he evil
IDENTIFY expected our main attack. In
/ this legion the fighting was especially
severe. The chalk formation gave the
Germans a splendid chance to make
the best use Of their miners who con-
structed dugouts and other defensive
works which our heaviest shells could
not destroy. From the works Nous
| queton battalions put UP most de-
| termined resistance.
Physical features made the cap
ture of Fricourt peculiarly difficult
| and our severe losses there were not
unexpected. Montaubon was one OF
the strongest positions occupied by the
Germans, but our advance there was
brilliant and rapid. without the losses
suffered between Gommecourt and
Fricourt. 4
"On the whole, we are we'll satis-
fed with our advance. We will con-
tinue our artillery preparation; as we
have no intention Of butting our head
against a stone wall. The human fac
tor must be considered, and this fac
tor presents some unexpected prob
lens on the German side, since after
all the enemy has something to say
about the progress Of any offensive
We are meeting strenuous opposition
Our progress most certainly will bt
deliberate. Many places like Fricourt
will be taken only after overcoming
desperate opposition. ......
THAT our gallant allies should ad.
vance faster with smaller losses thai
we is not only the fortune Of war, bu
may be called poetic justice, since the,
lost so heavily during the long week.
while we were getting ready t.
take our share in the great offensive
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