The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-26
GERMAN PUSH
WEARING OUT
BY ATTRITION
Horrible Execution by Brit
ish Gunners on Advanc-
ing Masses
GERMANS SUFFER
DISASTER IN AIR
Nearly 100 Enemy Machines
Brought Down in Past
Four Days
(By Associated Press.)

London, April 26.-Tele'
graphing today from British
headquarters in France Reu'
ter's correspondent says:
"The Germans are still
hurrying up fresh reserves
to press their counter-at'
tacks. They are fighting g
geat delaying battle, al,
though not now standing up.
on any well prepared system
of defenses and can only
hope to check our advance
by using up great masses o1
troops, whose breasts have
taken the place of parapets
"This policy must result
in greatly accelerating the
process Of exhaustion and il
continued long the situation
will resolve itself into the
simple problem of whicL side
can longer maintain the
deadly pace:
"PriSOners declare that
the German army is now be-
ing drained at a rate which
brings collapse within a
measurable distance"
The fourth day of the terrific strug-
gle on the British front in France has
opened with both sides still striving
vainly for O. decision. The Germans
have resorted TO the terribly costly
tactics Of massed attacks ana have
apparently succeeded in checking the
British advance. This partial success
has been won, according to spectators
at the titanic conflict, at a staggering
toll OF human life.
It would seem as if the revolution
ary mutterings which were ominously
swelling through Europe prior to the
inception of the great battle were
drowned in the thunders Of the battle
field but indications are not lacking
that momentous events are about to
occur behind the fighting lines.
The summary adjournment of the
Reichstag when its sittings had barely
opened is given added significance by
hints in the German press that the
strike agitation in Germany may burst
forth with renewed violence on May
Day, the great international Socialist
holiday. A nationwide labor demon
stration in Sweden is planned for that
day and may have its counterpart in
Spain.
No news of any Importance has
come from Austria in several days,
a fact which has given fresh vigor to
the ever-recurrent reports or 1nten-
tions or efforts on the part OF the dual
monarchy to seek a separate peace.
Returning travellers, however, tell
appalling stories Of the devastation
wrought by disease and starvation in
the Ottoman empire. They also repeat
the story that the Turkish people are
sick at heart over the war and its en-
tailed misery but are kept in subjec-
ton by the iron hand of Enver Bey
and his German colleagues.
A striking example OF the rigfdity
of the German censorship is afforded
by the news that no German news
paper is allowed to leave the empire
without being passed by the govern
ment officials.
Wire fences charged with electricity
have been erected along the German
Swiss frontier and every possible pre-
caution has been taken to prevent the
details of what is transpiing within
the central powers from reaching the
rest of the world.
Apart from France there are few
Developments of importance in the war
theatres. The British continue to drive
forward in Mesopotamia but there is
a curious silence in regard to the Rus
sian armies in that region. An attack
on a fairly large scale has, been made
by the allies on the Saloniki front but
there is nothing as vet to indicate
whether a general offensive is planned
in this region.
British Artillery Superior.
London, April 2e.-The outstanding
feature OF the second phase of the
battle OF Arras is the definite estab-
lishment OF superiority in artillery by
the British, and It is due to this
that they have been able
to maintain a successful offensive,
said Maj.-Gen. r. 3. Maurice in talk
today with The Associated Press.
General Maurice declared the Ger
mans had drawn on their strategic re-
serves and brought up great forces in
an attempt to stem the onslaught but
that the British machine was working
without a hitch. The German losses
have been terrific and thousands Of
dead Germans, he said, were lying in
front Of the British lines.
In the eighteen days OF the Arras
battle, General Maurice continued. the
British casualties have been some-
thing less than half what they were
in the corresponding period of the
Somme offensive while the number of
prisoners and guns captured by the