The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-04
Governments Summary of
Situation Tells of Big
Preparations
BELLIGERENTs
MASsING FORCES
Allied War Council Is Now
In Continuous Session
at Versailles
tBy Associated Press.)

Washington, March 4.-Continuet
preparatory movements on the par
Of the Germans along the western
front are noted today by the war de-
partment in its review of the mill
tary situation for the week ending
March 2. The momentum of battle
Is increasing" the statement declares
citing three attempts by the enemy
to reach the lines held by American
troops, as an example Of what is
taking place on a larger scale alone
the entire western front"
The definite announcement Is made
that American forces have taken over
a sector northwest Of Toul and that
number of detached units are IN
action in the Champagne.
Operations in the eastern tneater
are expected to affect events in
France, through a modification of
German plans. the review intimates.
Six Teuton columns are operating In
Russia and to only one OF these-the
column moving toward Vitebsk-is
any opposition noted.
Turkish forces advancing in the
Caucasus are meeting with little re-
sistance and are massacring Armen-
ian residents of the districts retaken
from the Russians.
Massinn Of Forces.
The review says:
The third month OF relative
quiescence on the western front has
come to a close. During this period
both beIligerent groups have been
massing their forces.
There is evidence that the enemy
continues to bring up fresh units.
Owing to transportation difficulties
this has been a slow and laborious
process.
THE allied war council is now in
continuous session, assuring complete
unity and fiexibility Of control.
The British have extended their
front.
our own forces have taken over
a sector northwest Of Toul. In addt-
ton, a number Of our detached units
are in action in Champagne and the
of battle Is increasing,
We have but to note the occur
rences of the last week in our own
sector in Lorraine in order to gain an
idea Of what is taking place. Patrols
have been very active. Early in the
week the enemy made two attempts
to reach our lines but was driven off
by machine gun fire. On March 1
the enemy developed a sharply driven
attack. After a short struggle the
hostile detachment was repulsed.
Germans Using Gas.
'aThe Germans are now using gas
along our front. Our men are be-
coming accustomed TO this weapon.
Our gas masks are efficiently pro-
tective. Our artillery was very busy
Smelling enemy dispositions and in
hicted considerable damage on gun
and mortar emplacements.
Important troop movements took
place behind the German lines OPP
posite our front
I'm spite OF the low visibility, hos
tile aircraft continued active and
made frequent incursions over our
lines.
I'm the region of the Chemin- des-
Danes lively encounters took place.
A French raid against the German
outposts, in which a number of Am
srican volunteers participated, was
very successfully carried through.
'The new trend Of events in Rus
STA has no doubt modified German
plans to a certain degree. For the
time being the enemy continues TO
advance eastward. Following the
and railroads six columns
1f invasion along a 700 mile front
are operating in careful co-ordina-
ion.
'In the Caucasus. the region from
he lake of Van TO the Black sea Is
again in Turkish hands. In the dis
.ric1 reoccupied by the Turks II is
stated that they are massacring the |
Armenians.
In Palestine the British are in |
lose contact with the Turks who are /
northward through the
ALLEY Of the Jordan. In Mesopotamia |
he British are advancing up the |
Cuphrates and have arrived in the 1
ricinity Of Hit which is reported to /
AVE been evacuated by the Turks"