The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-17
GERMANS FAIL
TO REGAIN THE
INITIATIVE
Steady Sapping of the Hin
denburg Line Still
Continues
GERMAN DEAD
PILED HIGH
Italians Are Striking Great
Blow in Direction of
Triest

(Associated Press War Summary
The Germans have piled high their
dead before the British lines but have
failed to stop the British advance. The
most furious and sustained counter at
tacks have withered before the blast
OF the British artillery and the sapping
of the Hindenburg lines goes on, slow
ly but without halt.
The tremendous effort made by
Field Marshal Won. Hindenburg to stem
the tide setting against them, has
given the battle of Arras an apparent
ebb and flow but the net result Is that
the most violent efforts of the Germans
to regain the initiative have failed.
Won Htndenburg apparently used every
ounce of strength at his command to
wrest from the British the villages OF
Roeux and Bullecourt and the outcome
Is summed up in the almost monoton-
Gus repetition by the British war ONCE
Of the statement: Our troops made
progress"
Possibly more ominous for Berlin in
view of the wabbly condition OF her
Austrial ally Is the news OF the great
blow struck by Italy I'm the direction
OF Triest' The Isonzo. turbulent
mountain stream, Is I'm Italian hands
for a distance of Is to 90 miles north
Of Gorilla. General Cadorna appears
to plan a great fianking movement
against the Corso plateau, a natural
rampant defending Triest The opera
tion is, however, in too early a stage
to permit judgment of its exact inn
port.
In Macedonia.
The allied offensive in Macedonia
continues with considerable success
for the British forces but the fighting
Is on such an extended front and so
sporadic in character that its meaning
is obscured. Reports from Bulgaria
Of discomfort and WEAKNESS OF the war
may be significant in connection with
General SarraiPs campaign.
The Russian factions have patched
up truce but the outcome is still
dubious. In any event 1t seems cer-
tain that little can be expected from
Russia in a military way for a long
time to come.
London, May 1.-THE British have
made further progress in the village of
Bullecourt and have reached its west
ern edge, according to an official
statement issued by the British war
Office this morning.
Have 5000 Prisoners.
Berlin via London, May 17.-So far
during May says the official statement
issued today by the German war Office
the Germans on the western front have
taken 1900 English prisoners and have
captured 2,7OO Frenchmen.
Use All Their Reserves.
London, May 1.-THE British and
French have forced the Germans to
use virtually all the fresh reserves
they had at the beginning of the bat
tie of Arras, Maj. Gen. F. B. Maurice,
chief director or military operations
at the war Office, told The Associated
Epvna N1I IL
sive began the Germans had forty
nine reserve divisions on the western
front. The British onslaught at Arras
and the more recent French offensive
have compelled the Germans to employ
all but four Of these divisions. The
German divisions have been reorganiz-
ed since the beginning OF the war,
General Maurice continued, but at
present contain at least 10000 men
each.
From STAFF Correspondent Of The
Associated Press, British Head
quarters in France, May II. The
Germans received heavy check north
Of the Scarpe river yesterday, where
in massed formation they stormed this
position which was recently won by
the British.
After q terrific bombardment last
ing a considerable time, the German
infantry came down the slopes of
Greenland hill from the direction OF
Plouvain. The British artillery made
the hillside look like a mushroom farm,
shell smoke spouting up thickly over
the entire field. Machine guns stream
ed missiles into the enemy ranks on
the front and in the hanks,
Sheer weight and momentum carried
the Germans beyond the British OUT
posts and even into the chemical works
but like a rubber ball. the
rebound was instantaneous and swiftly
the defenders struck. After a short
and hard fight the enemy was thrown
the slightest benefit to the allies when
British established more securely than
ever. The fighting continued about
Bullecourt and a German partial sue
cess recently won there was wiped
out. In the meantime, the British
their positions eastward
toward Rouex and drew mite closer
to Lens.
Here the Germans continue their
work OF wrecking the district. Build
ngs are being blown up and machinery
Ii being destroyed In order that the
great mining center shall not furnish
Ehes lightest benefit to the allies when
the Germans are finally forced to let