The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-18
HAD
TOUGHEST TASK
OF ALL DURING
FINAL War DAYS
he d Break
Through In Most Diff
ficult of AL Fronts
(By Associated Prees.l

Paris, Nov. 1S.-Out OF the confus-
ion and daxe of the crowding mill
tary events on the western battle
line since late in September, when
battle followed battle until from
Flanders to Veriun there was cease
less action, 1t is now permissible to
outline to a certain extent the part
played by the American armies in
the final decisive battle OF the war,
which ended with the armistice Of
last Monday.
Military reasons heretofore have
prevented accentuating the accom-
Iplishments of the Americans, except
in most general manner. The dis
patches, from the field have been
necessarily fragmentary and possibly
were overshadowed by the accounts
of the more dramatic operations over
the historic battle fronts to the west.
1T may now be stated that 81
American divisions totalling more
than 900 American combat troops
participated in the most, If not en-
tirely the most difficult of the whole
front. The broken terratn. the
topography and the lack OF roads
made the problem difficult 20 de-
scribe. Germany had in four years
fortified it to the last degree OF mill
tary skill, with superb roads, both
rail and motor, connecting up to the
rear positions and bases.
The outstanding feature OF the
Argonne forest is a long chain OF
hills running north and south, COW
cred with fdense growth OF trees,
and underground, making an ad-
vance difficult and offering superb
defensive qualities. Virtually no
roads exist in the forest except for a
few transyersal passes. The soil is
such that the least rain converts it
into slippery, mtry mess. In other
words the physical condition Is such
that the line OF attack for an adj
yancing army is limited to valleys.
chief among which is that of the Aire
river.
From the edge OF the forest, where
the resistance was viciousiy strong,
the enemy possessed innumerable
flanking positions. But beyond this
difficult region lay, the Montmedy-
Sedan line, which was recently cap
tured. A German order described 1t
"our life artery" II represented
on the western front It meant death
il cut.
Told TO Cut Line.
4nS nlSn command Lol0 FerBn1uB
to cut it. The American first army
was put in motion at st. Mihiel. In
nine days it was on the Argonne line
ready for an attempt, the failure Of
which might mean disaster and the
lisucccss of which would give untold
result Eats, quick Movement Of nu
enormous body of men, the establish-
ment of a new line Of supply and all
the complicated military prepare
tons. was regarded with pride by
the American commanders.
Not q Second st. MihieL
The Americans knew what con-
fronted them. They realized that
this was not second st. Mihiel, but
an enterprise at which other armies
had balked for four years. They
knew that here was to be fought a.
fight to rank with the first hattie of
the Marine, with Verdun, with the
Somme and the Chennin -Des- DANES;
and they knew that on them depend
ed the fate of the great attack on the
rest OF the front. If forced back here
the enemy must give way. to the west.
If he held he could hold elsewhere.
1t was at daybreak OF September
4