The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-20
AVERAGE ADVANCE HASBEEN7 NlZLESALOVC 22MzLE FRONT
2EEM4WS SOUTH OFlL4RNEFTGHT DESPERATEZ YTO ESCAPE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR
(Rv Associated Press }

! Over the greater part of the line
between the Aisne and the Marine
the French and Americans are still
pushing eastward. Their most pro-
nouneed progress appears 20 have
been chiefly on the more southerly
part of the line, the dash in the
northern sector having apparently
slowed up somewhat.
The allied forces control the pIa-
teau to the southwest of Soissone.
This important town, however, is
still holding out.
Further aouth the allied advance
has established itself at the village
of Vierzy, has passed the Mauloy
wood, east of Villers HeIon, and has
driven to the towns Of NeuiIly- St.
Front and Licy-CIienon. The cap
ture of NeuilIy ST. Front, one, of the
most important towns in the field
of advance south of the Ourcq, was
officially announced this morning.
Dispatches said the fighting today
was spreading southward toward
Chateau Tiherry. Indications were,
along the Aisne- Marine line seemed
to 30 impending, the Germans hav-
ing brought up reinforcements In
an effort to stop the steady push of
the allies.
South of the Marne there haa been
a tightening of the defensive arc
along the 14Ia-miIe line between
Fossoy and OeuiIIy, where the Ger
mans are fighting with the river at
their backs. Attacks by the French
last night caused the Germans to fall
back still further along this line.
During The fighting early this
week, American troops retook Fos-
soy and were mentioned as being
engaged in the battle along the
heights east of that place. They are
advance officially reported from
Paris. OeuEliy marks the approx
mate point whore the German lines
cross the Marne and turn northeast
over the rolling hills toward Rheims. |
MAKE NO EXTREME CLAIMS.
The French war office makes no
extreme claims of victory along the
Aisne. MaFne front. The front, as
deIineated in official reports, leaves
the Clisnon river, near Torcy, r4nsi
north through Ley -Clisnon and
NeuilIy-st. Front, turns slightly to
the east TO Mauloy wood, thence
north 70 yierzy and up over the
higher ground TO the hills southwest
of Sois8onss
There have been reports of allied
forces being far to the east of this
line but they have not been officially
confirmed. 1t seems probable that
the German tenure of Scissors has
been greatly weakened and it is
quite possible that some allied forces
are further east than the positions
indicated In the official reports.
The actual results officially an
nounced as achieved, however, with
important territory taken and with
more than 1900 prisoners and $50
guns captured, constitute in them
eeIVesy a decidedly brilliant success
for the Franco American drive 20
In the Aisne- -Marne drive there apr
pears to be an effort which is seenn-
i.neIy sueooeding' to straishten the
front all the way north from the
CIisnon river about five miles
northwest of Chateau Thierry. The
movement does not at present ap-
pear to be a great encireIing opera
ton. 1t Is rather a methodicaI push
along the western side of the Sois-
sons Chateau ThieFry- sal.
lent.
Is DEFENSIVE ACTION.
AS such, il must still be considered
defensive action that is going on.
Its character may change to an Of |
fensIVe stroke at any time, but moth. |
ing so far officially reported would |
indicate that General Manein's ad-
vance seeks to do more than relieve
the pressure against Rheims.
The advance of the allies south of
the Marney from Fossoy to OeuiIIy, |
as officially reported, may be de- |
cidedly significant. The German !
front is here so extended that il is |
not improbable that the enemy has
begun a retirement from the peril |
Gus position into which he had ads |
vanoed Monday and Tuesday. 1t has
been pointed out that the situation
of the Germans from Chateau Thier.
ry eastward to the point where their |
line crosses the Marine is dangerous
in the extreme, If the allied effort on |
the front north of Chateau SErierry
makes further progress. If the Ger
mans are really Fetreating from
across the Marine the situation is |
similar to that which ensued when
the Austrian advance across the
PiaVe was checked and the retro
grade movement began.
In a sudden attack in the BaiIleul |
sector, on the northern side of the
Lys salient in Flanders, the British
have advanced their fines over a |
front of two and a quarter miles and /
swept the Germans from tho village /
OF Meteren, the scene of stubborn |
fighting during the days of the Ger.
man offensive in Flanders early in
April.
Further south on the front be-
tween Albert and Arras, the British |
have advanced their line over a mile |
'front.' their attack taking place south /
OF Hebuternes This operation should |
relocate, the British front very near
the town of SerFes. A successful |
raid has been carried out by the |
British at Beaumont Hanel, lust /
south OF Hebuterne, this operation /
probably being in conjunction with |
the greater attack further north.
Steady progress against increased |
enemy resistance resulting in fight |
ing of the fieFcest nature attends |
further attacks by French and Aneri. |
can forces on Che frcnt between the /
Aisne and the Marne.
Around Scissors, on che north, &ha
German defense is stiffeninu and the
forward movement apparently Ia /
much slower than on Thursday, when |
the biggest gains of the days were
made there. IN the center and on the
south, however, the allied line has
been advanced about two miles, /
making the average further progress
about one and a quarter miles.
ne Germans keep their &ruosst
south Of the Marne, but d withdrawal
there becomes more certain. as the +
allies naoya forward northwest of /
Z