The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-23
WINTER WILL
/ NOT HALT THE
ALLIED DRIVE
Washington Expects Brit
ish Operations in Elan
ders To Continue
BAKER ISSUES
WEEKLY REVIEW
Says Germany Aims At
Easy Victories to Raise
Army's Morale
tBy Associated -rsss.)


Washington, Oct. 23.-Military ex-
perts here do not expect winter to
halt the great allied drive against
the Germans in Flanders. Secretary
Bakers weekly review Of war opera
tons issued last night discloses the
belief of the war department that the
potency of material and men will
enable the British and French com
manders 10 triumph over natural
obstacles and continue forcing the
enemy backward without waiting for
spring.
The review touches for the first
time upon the American expedition
any forces in France declaring the
men, after three months intensive
training, are in efficient fighting trim
and splendid physical condition.
The war secretary declares 1t APP
parent that the German high COM
Inand planned the recent expedition
against the Russians in the Riga sec
tbr to bolster up morale and meet
impending internal difficulties. By
extending her lines in the east, he
added Germany has merely added to
the length of her line of cOmmunica-
tons and increased confidence in the
final allied victory.
! Secretary Bakers review for the
week ending oct. 20. in part fol-
lows:
our men in France, after three
months intensive training, are In
splendid physical condition and efti-
cient fighting trim. They have be-
come acclimatiZed readily, and now
feel at home in the war zone.
Our troops have met with the
most waTmhearted and enthusiastic
reception on the part Of the armies
and people Of France.
The health of our men overseas Is
reported as excellent.
THE week just closed has been one
OF relative quiet on all fronts.
THE full Importance OF the battle
In Flanders is beginning to be reveal
ed. In order to appreciate the real
Significance of this engagement and
the effect it has had on the morale
OF the German army, and the German
people we must consider briefly the
German attacks in the Riga sector,
including the capture OF Oesel, DagO
and other minor islands Of the Finn
ish gulf.
THE German higher command has
invariably picked out a weakened
objective in order to be able to re-
cord a success, which should be OF
political rather than military value.
The islands off the Finnish coast in
the hands of the enemy, in no way
offset the recent allied victory in
Flanders.
IF the enemy had any confidence
in being able to stem successfully the
tide of the allied advance in the
west, he would throw every ounce of
his strength into the balance in
Flanders and, If possible by crushing
the allied armies, bring about peace
with victory which the German
emperor has stated as his objec-
tive.
ut Is evident that the terrible
punishment by allied artillery fire is
beginning to have a very decided
effect along the western front. Never
before in any series of engagements
have so many German divisions,
after brief encounters, been with
drawn and replaced by fresh troops,
DeserteTs from German ranks taken
into the allied lines have become in
cre8singly numerous.
AN interesting summary OF troops
movement in the United States shows
that since the present mobilization
began 914,195 persons have been
transported by the railroads for the
war department, of whom 256,Sl5
were transported in standard or
tourist sleepers, the remainder In
ordinary day coaches. This vast
movement has been conducted by the
railroads of the country without a
single serious accident and the CO.
operation between the railroads and
the department has been most
cordial and effective.