The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-02
ill fan it into flames again.
The Italian Attack.

The Italian Attack.
The Italian attack on the AsiagC
plateau was similar in it's conception
to General Byng's- assault at Cambria
and the French enterprise east of the
Brenta river last week. It was a sur.
prise attack executed at night
trench raid on a tremendous scale. Il
was wholly successful in it's objec-
tives. The Italians took and held two
important mountain positions in the
most vital part OF their line, TIL,
Asiago plateau is the point farthest
to the west, near the Swiss border
and is therefore farthest behind the
line on the lower Piave. If the in
vaders broke through here they would
menace the communications Of the
entire Italian army, and force a
hurried retreat This retreat might
not be accomplished in time to pre-
vent disaster. The victories of this
week, which strengthen the line, are
therefore of much Importance, and
greatly increase the confidence that
the present line will hold.
An American Line.
The time when Americans will be a
real factor in the war is rapidly APP
preaching. Secretary Baker announ-
ced that 5000 men will be in France
'early this year" That should mean
by April 1. The Americans have not
yet taken over a section of the line
so far as the public knows-but this
may be expected very soon. Various
divisions are being given their spell
in the trenches along with French
and British forces, and the American
line undoubtedly will be established
very soon, if it has not been al
ready. That line will be extended
as rapidly as the men are available,
and as the commanders deem advis-
able. 1t will permit the French and
British to hold their sectors in much
greater force, and every day that
passes reduces any chance the Ger
mans may have had of breaking
through with their great offensive.
Minor events of interest during
the week, were the revolution in Fin
land, the return of Trotzky to Brest-
the break with Rumania, the
air raids on London and Paris, and
the submarine figures.
The revolution in Finland does not
seem to be progressing very favor
ably Only in Helsingfors do the
control the situation, and
elsewhere the government troops are
putting down the revolt. Finland's
two revolutions came much closer to-
gether than Russia's but they were
alike. The first revolution
brought a Finnish republic, indepen-
dent Of Russia, but it was of the
and the Bolsheviki
undertook to overthrow it.
The peace negotiations at Brest-
Litovsk appear to be in a deadlock.
Little news has come from them dur
ing the week, and there is nothing
TO indicate that either a final agree
ment or a final break in the armis-
lice is any nearer than week ago.
Air raids on both London and Paris.
resulting in the loss Of nearly 200
ives, were reported during the week,
md reprisals viii undoubtedly result.
Little is heard of the Allies raids on
German cities. A few lines announce
hat Allied aviators dropped so many
.ons or hundreds of tons Of bombs
IN military detectives" and that is
IN that is reported, In reality the
lamage done probably greatly ex-
leeds that in the raids on London !
md Paris.
The increase in submarine sinl1ings !
or the week was not unexpected. The |
igures had been held at minimum
or two weeks and the line was due |
o take an upward curve again.