The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-16
PROGRESS TO DATE
ALMOST NEGLIGIBLE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF The WAR
(By Associated Press.)

kBy Associated FTeSS.
East and west of Rheims the Ger
mans are fighting with desperation
and every resource to bring quick
success to their fifth offensive of the
present great battle year. Almost
everywhere the allied troops are
holding tenaoiousIy and the fighting
zone behind the first line is yet in
tact along the entire 65-miIe front.
USE 100000 OR 100000.
Superior resistance by American,
French and italian troops held the
Germans 60 minimum GAINS. Be-
tween 100000 and 100000 men were
thrown into the battle line by the
German command. Despite these
huge numbers and the use of every
facility of offense and destruction
known to the enemy Berlin was able
to report officially Monday night
only that 'to the southwest and east
of Rheims we penetrated into parts
of the French positions"
Large forces were concentrated TO
be thrown across the Marne and
bridges were laid between Fossoy
and Dormans. American troops,
fighting with great dash, met this
menace, checked il and hurled it
against the river. Near Fossoy the
enemy was thrown back TO the north
bank by the impetuous Americana
who captured between 1000 and 1890
prisoners, including an entire brigade
staff. The bend in the river where
the Germans crossed now is don1in"
ated by American cannon and ma"
chine guns
French and italian divisions en-
gagged the Germans between the
Marine and Rheims. On a front of
q miles here the enemy advanced an
AVERAGE depth of two and one-half
miles, his greatest gain of the day.
Desperate fighting continues all
along this line and the Germans
have been unable to gain much ad-
ditional ground.
HELD EAST OF RHEIMS.
East Of Rheims the Germans have
been smashed completely. The
French defense there stood resolute-
Iy and stopped the foe in his tracks:
Attack after attack is being launched
the battle line but General Petain's
mon are unwavsring in their defense.
Colossal as was the artillery prep
aration along the great fighting
front, it was met by an allied fire
that was fully az destructive. The
German infantry marched against
machine gun fire that deeimated
whole regiments. French aviators
bombed the enemy increasingly and
destroyed two bridges loaded with
Allied capitals feel that the Ger
man effort has been baked in its
inception. The allied troops are
holding their own.
Genera Foeh, who anticipated the
place and date of the offensive and
made his plans accordingly is report
ed we'll satisfied with the result of
the first day's fighting. No import
ant positions have been gained and
the Germans have suffered great
losses for the small advances made.
It is apparent the German com
Finand hoped TO wipe out completely
the Rheims salient by July II, but
Epernay, the objective of the first
day, stiIl is safe from enemy troops.
RHEIMS STILE HOLDS.
AS yet, no frontal attack has been
made on Rheims and that battle
Scared city, long the objective of
German bombaFdments, still holds
out. The enemy surrounded it on
three sides and hope apparently TO
take il as a result Of great gains east
and west Of the city. The German
effort probably will reach its full
development within a few hours and
until then, the real objective is un-
certain. A marked enemy advance
on the present attacking front would
give him territory and points from
which to make further attempts TO
reach Paris -
On the remainder of The western
front, in italy and in the Macedonian
tneater the fighting activity has not
been great. British troops have
made a slight advance near ViIIers
Bretonneuk, south of the Somme.
Lively local fighting has occurred on
the italian mountain front but with
no change in the situation. In AL
hania French detachments continue
to press back the Austrians in the
peVol valley, capturing number Of
prisoners.