Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-28
EVENTS On WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
The outstanding features Of the war for the week
nave been the continued progress made by the Allies on
al fronts; the launching of a new and highly important
OFFENSIVE IN Champagne; the concentration Of the Brit
an forces on another smashing blow east from Arras:
the progress Of the development Of st. Quentin and
aAon; the demonstration Of the Teutonic forces by re-
peated Allied successes on the Macedonian front, and
the invasion Of Bulgarian territory by the right wing of
the Allied armies; the utter rout Of the Turk, and their
German allies In Palestine: and the making Of peace
overtures by Bulgaria.
Any one OF these things is Of sufficient importance
to command attention, but the combination is over
whelming. The new military feature is, Of course, the
Champagne offensive. This was launched on Thursday
morning. with Americans operating on the right Of the
chosen sector. covering some 30 miles west from verdun,
and the French continuing the fight for an unknown
distance still farther west. In the first days operations
the Americans penetrated some seven miles beyond the
enemys lines northward. and very satisfactory success
was reported from the French sector. The movement
was IN good progress when the last dispatches were re-
eeived. though from the beginning the Germans have
made strenuous efforts to hold their ground.
The only manner in which the Germans could have
been taken by surprise in this offensive was in the pre-
else time chosen for launching it. 1t has been clear to
I'll military observers Tor some time that the Allied Of
fensive was to be pushed as hard as possible, and that
IN view of the relative stabilizing Of the lines elsewhere
that part of the line eastward from Rheims was due for
4 major movement. The clearing up Of the St. Mihiel
alient was everywhere accepted as a step preparatory
10 a more ambitious operation. and the logic of the sit
aation pointed to the Champagne district as the one
where the blow would most probably be struck.
.
The situation introduced by this e moven,en+
q the most nenacing that has yet confronted the Ger
man military command. IN it Foch has struck right
1T the heart of their positions. By a considerable adj
vance northward from verdun he will threaten the rear
Of the German armies which are desperately defending
the Hindenburg line while they are so powerfully as
sailed from the front that they are continually COM
PEELED to give ground. 1t threatens the Germans with
the division of their western force into two separate
sections. 1t will destroy that facility of transport which
has heretofore been one of the main factors of German
strength. 1t will open the way for a wide thanking
movement against Metz. a movement which. il success
full, would render the elaborate defenses Of that city
useless and compel its evacuation without the firing of
. gun directly against its Notifications il the Allies chose
to take 1t that way.
In Palestine General Allenby has won so complete
. victory over the Turks that the army which opposed
him has ceased to exist. More than 10000 Of its mem
bers have been captured. and the operations of the Brit
fish for days have resolved themselves into pursuit of
the scattered fragments of what was once a Turkish
army. and the reception of prisoners who have come in
OF their own accord and surrendered, glad of shelter and
the prospect Of something to eat.
q .
It is in the Balkans that the war drama has entered
upon one of its most interesting phases. Following the
smashing defeat which they have suffered the Bulgar-
tans, through their premier. have asked for an armistice
during which terms of peace shall be discussed. The
reply has been promptly made that no suspension OF
hostilities would be considered. but that If the Bulgarian,
chose to send delegates properly representing the Bull.
Earian government they would be received.
@
In Berlin it is stated that the request for m arms.
tce has been made by Premier Malinon without the ap
prevail or consent Of Kins Ferdinand. and there ia a de-
mand that the premier be courtmartialed for his act
There is reported to be a condition Of intense excitement
in Germany over the news, though in some quarters II
10 suspected that the. move is merely another phase OF
the peace offensive planned by the German government
and is for the purpose Of gaining time and creating con.
fusion. It seems more probable, however, that the move
IL an Independent one on the part OF Bulgaria, and tina
II is either prompted by q faction in the army which
had had no love for the German alliance. and 10 not In
clined to suffer further losses in Q cause in which 1t feel,
no interest, or that it is initiated By Ferdinand. who
though he sympathizes With Germany as much as h.
sympathlzes with anything. ts thoroughly selfish and
cynical. and would not hesitate TO break with his allies
IL he felt mat he could thereby better his position.
ss
Il = e be assumed that the Allied attitude toward
Bulgaria Will be identical with Its attitude toward the
81 Austrian peacs note, and that nothing short of.uncondt
ttonai surrender viii induce the Allies TO stay their hand
1.-THE BulgasiaHs hays reached the point whore they ars
Wiling 70 surrsndsrs-7and Apparently they must surren.
Aer Or soon bss ssdsstreysd--it 4 apparent that ts Ter.
ionic ALLIANCES M ceHs ~ awful seroppsf. The ei1uin.
atton 81 Halssrta wtil issve Turkey isolated. ana With
~ saspss soins assisst her sfe. tod, must lay dewn he,
anA aek@vhe disposttion - to be made AZ m
IkahS 4nisasts #ssAAaceSt ~ oaiy obstsels u ths VI,
Sessxtase6aStesstst1 ssnasAsntstta frsa ne ssax ron,4 s.