The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-18

ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF WAR

While the renewal OF the German
offensive In the west awaits COM
pIetion Of the enemy's preparations
and presumably weather conditions
that fit in with the German plans,
events are in progress elsewhere with
potentially important bearings upon
the war as a whole.
The arrest of a number of Irish
leaders as the result of the discovery
of an alleged plot which, according to
some Of the reports, may have con.
templated the landing of German
forces in Ireland has a bearing upon
the development OF the British man
power problem, as probably tending
to bring to a head the question of
Irish recruitment, voluntary or other
wise.
In a much more distant ffeId-the
Far East-the allied nations have de-
etded to cooperate in a military way
70 meet the dangers threatening the
peace Of that part of the world from
German penetration. Paris announces
that China and Japan have been no.
tilted to this effect, but Washing.
ton understands that participation
in the operations will be confined for
the present TO Japan and China
themselves. The safeguarding of
Manohuria is the primary purpose
of the move, but the possibility ex-
ista, it is saidy that the measures,
which are considered as Of a defen'
siYs nature will be extended to
Siberia
Meanwhile The indications from
both German and entente quarters
are that the hour Of the resumption
Of the German drive in the west is
not far distant. Significant in this
connection may be the announce
nent from Count Won Hertling, the
German imperial chancellor, that he
was confident that Turther events
in the west" would bring nearer "a
speedy end Of the war;" 1t was just
such pronouneements as this that
Immediately preceded the opening
Of the German offensive in March
and there have been recently other
warnings to the German people
imminent.
On the entente side there is a feel
ing that the Germans have com.
pleted their preparations and that
the beginning Of their new attack
only depends upon weather eondi-
tions.
The allies likewise have utilized
the long period of the Iu!I to round
out their defensive plans and Gen.
eral Foeh, the conlmander~i in chief,
and all the allied forces are declared
to be awaiting tho shock with the
greatest confidence that they can
successfully resist it.
II Is in the Avre sector that French
oommenttatora expect the chief force
Of the blow 70 fall
The enemy, IL is believed In Lon,
don, 10 preparing for a mighty at
tack greater In force, if possible,
than the smash on March 2f, along
the % mile front souEhward from
Arras. Tho Germans, however, are
having difficulty in filing up their
greatly depleted ranks. some divi-
siona having lost more than so per
cent-one 70 per cent-of their eff
.feetives in. the reeent fighting. In
addition, the allied artillery is caus-
ing havoc with German preparations
near the front lines, while their rail.
way stations and biIletg behind the
lines are under an almost continuous
raid Of bombs dropped by allied air.
men. -..-.
Enemy artillery and man power
concentrations probably will become
stronger as Field Marshal Won Hin
denburs delays q new advance, but
the allied defenses gain strength in
the same ratio and a new source of
fighting power, the American army,
grows in power. General Pershinu's
men arc now on both the important
battle fronts-Fianders and Picardy
but in what numbers is not dis
closed. Their coming, however, is
having a great moral effect on the
British and French, and the longer
The Germans, delay the greater will
the American aid become.
Aerial activity is the most prom
inent feature of the news from the
fighting zones. French and British
airmen have dropped many more
Eons Of explosives on enemy military
targets, while the Germans are be-
coming more active In attempts to |
get behind tho allied lines. In aerial |
fighting the British have brought |
down IS. German machines, while |
British guns accounted for ten
more. Berlin claims the destruction |
Of 1S allied airplanes. Another at |
tempt TO raid Paris Friday night |
failed.
On the American sectors west Of I
Montdiaiers northwest of TouI and |
in Lorraine the aerial fighting also |
has increased. The American posi- |
tions in Picardy and in Lorraine are |
being bombarded heavily by the Ger
mans. The artillery fire has fallen |
off in &he TouI sector but American |
patrols are active there.
A plot in the interests of Germany |
has been discovered In ireland. An |
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