The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-20
Confirms Reports That AL
lies Seek to Clear Flan-
ders of Invaders
CANADIANS FIND
NEW TEUTON PLAN
Send High Explosives Far
Back of Lines To Ter
rorize Coal Miners I
tBY Associated Press.)

10y AS5OCAab0a EEeSS'J
Early this morning the
British infantry went
"Over the top" on a wide
front east of Ypres, and the
Flanders offensive was on
again.
The rush evidently was
successful at the outset for
the captures of positions of
value were reported.
The renewal of the often
.sive came after a long pause
in which preparatory work
had been carried on un-
ceasingly:
Early reports did hot
outline definitely the extent
of the front attacked, but
a clue seemed to have been
furnished by Berlin which
yesterday reported the
drum fire to be pounding
the line from Houtholst
wood, five miles south of
Dixmude, to the River Lys,
a distance OF about fifteen
miles.
The Flanders operations were
opened this year with the blowing
up Of the Messines ridge on June II,
and the capture Of the Wytschaete
salient by the British, and was con-
tInued with the opening OF the pres
ent great offensive by the combined
attack of British and French troops
on July 81. Progress on a notable
scale continued to be made during
August, but in the latter part Of that
month and during September until
now, the infantry lighting has large
ly been confined TO local drives and
extensive trench raids.
From the French front today only
artillery activity Is reported. The
statement covered only last nights
operations and the early reports to-
day did not indicate whether the
rench In Flanders had Joined the
renewed drive there.
London, Sept. 2O.-The British
forces on the Belgian front attacked
the German positions this morning
east OF Ypres. Field Marshal Haig
reports that satisfactory progress
was made, and that the British al
ready have captured some valuable
positions.
Field Marshal Haig's selection OF
the battlefront east OF Ypres in
Belgium as the scene Of his latest
offensive indicates IL Is continuation
of the expressed purpose Of the
British commander to force tie
armies OF Crown Prince Rupprecht
Of Bavaria from the western coast
Of Belgium, and to cut off the Ger
man submarine and airplane bases
on the North Sea from Zeebrugge to
Nieuport, including Ostend.
The British drive apparently 10 be-
ing made toward Roulers and Cour-
trai, from which towns, according 70
recent reports, German military
have been eVacuating the
Belgian civilian population.
That the British offensive had
been in preparation for several days
was made known in recent state
ments OF the German general army
stah.
Germans Throw Shells Far Back.
Canadian Headquarters IN France.
Sept. 1.-(By Canadian Press Estab-
ished. ARTILLERY activity has been
greater today, aided by brilliant
sunshine, than for several days
The tendency Of the enemy to de-
vote more attention 20 Smelling our
back areas with long range high
guns increases, as does his
use OF gas shells in sections where
lived. The object
Is 20 terrorize mine work.
RS and their families and make more
aificult the work OF raising coal.
British Headquarters il France
ma Belgium BY The Associated
Marshal Haigs ofIen-
live began aG dawn this morning on
he Belgian battle front and III pro-
with marked success. es-
lecialiy IN the crucial sectors be-