The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-20
BEST DIVISIONS
OF GERMAN Army .
WERE SHATTERED
In RECENT DRIVE
Terrific Losses in Great
Battle Robbed Men of
Fighting Spirit
LONG REST NEEDED
TO RESTORE MORALE
Allies Look for Extension =
Of the Battlefront to
the South
OFFICIAL REPORTS
FROM ALL CAMPS
Only Minor Operations
Are Listed in the Var
ious Statements
OFFICIAL REPORTS
FROM ALL CAMPS
CRy Associated Press.l


With The French Army In France,
Sunday, May 19-The Germans ap-
parently are awaiting the return OF
the offensive spirit among some Of,
their best divisions, severely tried
during the first stages Of the ofEens
sive before reopenfng operations.
Large numbers of their units lost
considerable portion of their ef-
fectives in the heavy fighting in Pi-
cardy and Flanders and, despite the
fact that the ranks have been filled
Immediately from depots in the rear,
strong impressions Of the terrific
ordeal through which they passed
are still retained by them. Most Of
these shattered divisions have en-
joyed only three or four weeks rest
since, which experience has demon
strated is hardly sufficient time Ia
which to restore fighting qualities.
The German command knows this
perfectly well, and, therefore, is
holding back as long as possible be-
fore attacking so as to have more
recuperated units available TO add
to those which have not participated
in the fighting up to this time.
It seems probable when the Ger
mans commence heavy fighting again
they may extend the battle front
further south and east toward the
district lines between Laon and
Rheims where the front is we'll
served by railroads which would en~
able them to attempt surprise up
on the allies by making a big DEM
onstration there with the intention
Of attracting General Foch's reserves
while they carry out their main ef-
fort further north.
The allies, however are we'll rrsa
pared for eventualities. The Ameri-
cans are working in the greatest
harmony with both the French and
the British and the most complete
confidence reigns among officers and
men In all the allied armies.
The British Report.
London, May 2O.-The German
artillery developed increased activity
last night along the front between
Albert and Bucquoy, the war once
announces.
The statement follows:
We captured a. few prisoners yes
terday as result Of a successful raid
carried out in the Albert sector. A
raid attempted by the enemy north
OF Hinges was repulsed with heavy
loss to the hostile ra1ding party.
The hostile artillery activity fn-
creased considerably last night ON
the Albert -Bucquoy front"
The French Report.
Paris, Sunday, May 19-The ofFi-f
cial statement from the war oflcsj
today reads:
"The artillery on both sides was,
active north Of the Avre. French
patrols were active in the sector OF
HaDgard and captured prisoners.
Enemy surprise attacks against
our positions on the lower Ailette. I'm
the Argonne and in the Woevre were
broken up by our fire. We brought
back prisoners in raids east of
Rheims. There is nothing to report
on the remainder Of the front"
The Austrian Report.
Vienna, via London. Sunday Nav
19.-The official statement from AUS
tro- Hungarian general headquarters
today reads:
Reciprocal accommodating actfvftv
in T,yrolean west front and the VIM
cenzian mountains led to fightine
favorable to us. East of Monte Per-
tica (east OF the Brenta), the enemy
was repulsed twice In hand o-hand
fighting"