The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-19
THE WAR FOR THE WEEK.

sumption ana q little DIT SHY.
THE WAR FOR THE WEEK.
Outstanding features OF the war
news OF the week have been: The
Russian reorganization; the arrival of
American and Japanese destroyers in
England and France; the renewed
offensive on the Italian front; some
signs of activity in Macedonia; and
the final victory Of the British in the
bloody struggle for Bullecourt, with
it's promise OF another German retreat.
Americans are following the Rus
sian situation with painful eagerness.
If the Russian army breaks down, IL
will prolong the war for months, per-
haps years. 1t will end the hope Of
starving Germany out. 1t will send
reinforcements to the western front.
1t will hearten and solidify the Ger
man people
But the news of the week has been
Of a most hopeful nature. designations
of army officers have been withdrawn,
and the government has been reorgan-
lied. Making predictions about sit
uation of which so little is known, is
hazardous in the extreme. but at this
writing it does not look as IL sep
arate peace with Russia were prob
able. The worst to be feared is leth-
argy: q virtual armistice between
the Russian and German armies for
Germany has not the men nor the
disposition to push an offensive in
this direction. The hope is that the
Russian army will realize that the
policy of mo annexation" does not
mean defensive warfare. The Germans
are still in Russia. and IL American
money and American brains can re-
store the fighting spirit of the Russian
army it will hasten the defeat of Ger
many more than any one factor.
The arrival of American and Japan
csc destroyers in European waters
probably presages a determined Of
fensive against the submarine Two
hints of a solution of the submarine
problem have been thrown out during
"CChs SiC " do Tile
by w. L. Saunders. which sounded ILL
advised and premature. and the other
was the announcement that the in
ventor of the gyroscope had perfected
an apparatus which might eliminate
the submarine. It may be that the
coming month will see an energetic
attempt to "go into the rathole." with
the American and Japanese destroyers
aiding the allied vessels. and using
some new inventions effectively. No
better news could come from the war
zone than that.
The Italian and Macedonian fronts
have been the mysteries of the last
year of the war. Apparently the allies
had huge armies. well supplied and
equipped, on both fronts, yet nothing
was being done in either section to
relieve the pressure the Germans were
able to bring against the British and
French in the west. There undoubt-
edly was a good military reason for It..
What that reason was, is not known
outside of army and official circles in
this country, but the renewed activity
in Italy and Macedonia will do much
to make up for the Russian inactivity.
Last, but not least, is the final
British victory in the struggle for
Bullecourt. The site Of this village
has been the scene of one of the
bloodiest and most fiercely contested
battles of the war. It straddles the
Dricourt- Queant line, and it's capture
probably means another German re-
treat.
On the whole, the news Of the week
has been favorable in the extreme for
the allies, and almost as heartening to
them must have been the passage of
the army bill and the promise of an
American army Of 100000 before
many months have passed.
In another column on the editorial
page this evening, is a letter to The
Forum from s. A. Olsness, state COM
missioner Of insurance. The letter was
too lengthy for publication in full but
in the excerpt published Mr.. Olsness
makes his point clear, and it is well
worth the consideration of the farmers
of the state. ~.-
POETRY OF THE WAP