The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-14
Steadily Advance in Face Of
Every Horror Known
To Warfare I.
MAKE ASSAULTS
BY SEA AND AIR
Italians Break Long Period
of Inactivity With Bonn
bardment


In the face of blazing oil, liquid fire,
poison gas and every horror known to
modern war the British are slowly but
steadily fighting their way to the
Droicourt- -Queant line, the gate 10
Douai and Cambria and the principal
link in the fetters welded on northern
France by the Germans. General Haig
is hammering all along the line but 1t
is around Queant at the northern ex-
tremity that his success has been most
won and the corresponding menace TO
the Germans greatest.
Queant is virtually pocketed. To the
east, west and south the road is clear
to the British as far as natural bar
riers are concerned except for part of
the village of BulIecourt. After some
Of the grimmest fighting on the west
ern front the British have driven their
foes from one half of Bullecourt and
unless the tide is checked the viii
lage is lost to the Germans and the
crushing Rroicourt- -Queant line is in
evitable.
A ray of sunshine has also fallen on
British arms at sea. The great Ger
man submarine base at Zeebrugge and
the naval stronghold Wilhelmshaven
have been assaulted from sea and air,
apparently with notable success.
zeebrugge is an absolutely artificial
harbor, called into existence on the
sandy fiat coast of Belgium by the
exigencies of submarine warfare and
practically depending on its being on
great mole. This mole 10 said to have
been reached by British guns and the
Germans must quickly repair the
damage or the shifting sands will
complete the work Of destruction COM
menced by the British guns.
italian Activity.
The only incident of moment in the
other war theatres is a fresh Austrian
report of a great artillery lombard
ment by the Italians on the ISonzo
front. This may mean that the long
inactivity of General Cadorna is about
to be broken. The Italian situation has
been wrapped in considerable obscur-
ity and there have been uncomfortable
rumors that the chaos in Russia was
inspiring the central powers to mass
forces for a great drive against Italy.
These rumors have been somewhat
offset by the accommodating reports that
Austria Is seeking in every direction a
path to peace and Is willing to make
great concessions toward that end. In
this connection the announced visit OF
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hoilweg 10
Vienna gains in Importance. The fury
OF the German junkers against the
Austrian attitude Is obviously tncreas-
ed by their conviction that the chan
cellor has gone over to the moderate
party with its program Of peace with
out annexation or indemnities. There
seems little doubt that the demand for
peace is steadily growing in volume
in Germany and the hysterfa the
junkers have displayed through their
and through the utter
ances Of their leaders. is significant In
this respect.
TrR. l. Az HvnAf - Wwk
the answer will be to the Russian rid
die. The resignation of the military
at Petrograd because OF
his refusal to accept orders from thu
council OF Worlmens delegates
neightens the impression OF the grow
ng power Of the radicals and thu
of the army. Appar-
sntIy the provisional government must
quickly assert its authority or abandon
4 pretense at power.
While military interest continues
% center on the great battle on the
western front where the British are
continuing to press the Germans back,
.he situation in Petrograd is de-
handing increasing attention and
IL possible, added concern
among all the allied nations. Under
he continued harrassina course Of the
,adical element in Petrograd the pro-
government showA signs Of
breaking up. The first gap in the gov
.rnment ranks was created yesterday
when NJ. GuchkoH, minister OF war
md marines. handed in his resigna-
ion.
British Headquarters in London
rom a STAFF Correspondent OF The
Associated Press, May 14.-Brttish
roops have almost completed the abb
Iorption Of two important villages to
which the Germans have clung des-
,erately ever since the battle OF Ar
as began. One OF these is the village
4 Roeux and the other Is BuiIecourt
which lies directly in the Hindenburg
Ine Just west of oueant. AS a result
Il steady lighting during the last
orty-eight hours the Germans foot
lold in Bullecourt has been reduced to
wo isolated posts where bombing
tights are continuing. A virtually SIM
lar situation exists in Roeux.
In the British victory on Sunday
he German counter attacks have
aclred much of their recent fierceness.
The number OF prisoners taken dur
ng this time has been exceptionally
arge for the character Of operations
nd the number Of troops involved.
{ may be that the Germans have be-
ONE tired Of sending so many Of tEelr
roops to death in massed formation.
The heat wave in the lighting dis
rict has been temporarily broken by
-