The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-05
The Var for the Week

addtSo poLs ana IlCkk up q rev villages Vi GAtASS
| or few square miles OF territory, and wipe out
a few thousand Of the Teuton defenders, and then
| die down temporarily. Before the war weary
Germans had an opportunity to rest or re-
cuperate the battle flames up in another sector.
1t Is illogical to consider the various battles
now in progress, as separated unconnected
engagements. They are all parts OF the great
confederation which has been touched off by Mar
shall Foch at score OF points between the North
Sea and Damascus, and which inevitably must
sweep through Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and
Turkey with increasing momentum.
In reviewing the momentous happenings OF the
last week. the best plan probably you'd be to
follow the battle line from the North Sea to
Damascus noting the changes that have been
made.
.... The First zone.
The first battle might be considered as in that
sector from the North Sea as far south as Lens,
distance Of perhaps 20 miles following the pres
ent battle line. This drive which has been push
ed by the BeIgians and British all week, has two
great detectives. The first is to drive the Ger
mans from the Belgian ports along the North
Sea. which have been 50 valuable as submarine
bases, and the other is to free the great French
coal region around Lens, Arnentieres and Lille.
The Belgianas and British have driven deep
salient in toward Roulers. which is about half
way between Lille and Ostend They are grad
ualIy BeLLlnB possession or the network OF rail-
roads in this part Of Belgium, and an advance of
another five miles from Roulers will certainly
force q retirement from ostend and zeebrugge
for it would bring Brugges under direct fire. AL
ready the Germans are said to have moved their
heavy artillery from the coast and this opens the
way to possible landing Of British forces in.
outflanking movement
This salient at Roulers and an advance further
south which will be referred to later, brought
about the German retirement on the front be-
tween Armenteres and Lens, a distance OF 20
miles. The Germans retired fully three miles.
and the line is now but seven miles from Lille
the biggest city in occupied France.
Lille will not be given up without struggle
for 1t is a vital center. This northermost battle
has gone exceedingly well all week, despite the
bitterest resistance, and both Of it's detectives
are in fair way to being accomplished
The Second Zone.
The second great battlefront might be con-
sidered as that between Lens and Laon a dis
lance of about 75 miles on the present battle
line. This front includes that famous string Of
fortresses. Douai- Cambrai-st Quentin-La Fere-
Laon. It is the hastion Of the German lines In
France, the front that was supposed to be inn
pregnabIe. ,e.-
The Hindenburg Tine" is a n1isnomer. 1t should
be considered as a system of defenses from Ave
to ten miles in depth They consist of concrete
trenches, deep dugouts, underground forts pill
boxes, miles and miles of wire, hanks Of streams.
fortified hills, fortified woods, tunnels and every
conceivable cover that would make defense easy
and attack difficult.
Through this maze of defense the British,
French and Americans have been eating their
way mile by mile. day after day. The most no.
table victory this week was the capture of st.
Quentin by the French, which was largely made
possible by the advance of the British and
Americans just north OF the city. hsTBrftish
reported to have broken clear through the
HIndenburg system, and to be fighting in open
country along front of Ave miles north of St.
Quentin. -o" "-
This breach occurred in the vicinity OF the little
village OF Fongomme, about half way between
Cambria and st. Quentin If the British can
widen IT, It means that both Cambria to the north
and La Fere and Laon to the south can be en-
circIed and what is left of the Hindenburg line
will be in Allied hands. The Germans undoubt-
eddy are making desperate efforts to close this
breach and reform the line, and some terrific
fighting may be expected here.
The Third zone.
At Laon the line swings around to the east and
on a stretch Of about 75 miles between Laon and
verdun the third great battle is in progress. 1t
really consists Of three closely connected en-
gagements The first is an effort on the part of
clean out all the Germans south OF the eastern
end of the Chemin Des Danes This little strip
Of territory is the only ground captured by the
Germans this year which remains in their hands.
1t is rapidly being taken from them. Moreover,
Rheims is being freed from artillery fire for the
first time since 1914, and the movement offers
very serious menace to the German armies south
and west Of Laon.
East of Rheims two great battles are in pro-
gress. The Argonne forest divides the stretch
between Rheims and Verdun. West Of the forest
the French are attacking and east of the forest
the Americans are driving forward, the purpose
being to envelop the forest and form a junction
at Grand Pre- which would mean an advance of
fully ten miles along the whole front OF 40 miles
This enterprise is very near to accomplishment,
and the advance is becoming graver menace daily
to the great German supply lines which serve
all the German forces along the Lille, Douai,
Cambria and Laon front The Germans needless
to say, realize this menace well as the Allies,
and are putting up desperate resistance.
From Verdun south to the Swiss border the
line is quiet, but the civilian population has been
moved out.of Alsace, and the Germans evidently
fear a blow there The Italian front may also be
the scene Of a great offensive soon
1t is a crucial moment for the whole German
the Allies are boring in toward the vttals of the
defense system, and the whole front is waverng.
Withdrawals must continue as the result Of VIC
tories already won, Whether or not these with
drawals can be turned into a route, remains to
be seen. To date they have been made in good
order but with tremendous losses in men and