Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-13
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
The week closes with the German drive still in prog
rcss. Checked in places and for a time, the forward
movement has been undertaken lsewhere, and, while
progress has been slow and costly, there has been prog
rcss. The feature Of the week has been the extension of
the battle line we'll to the north Of the sector included in
the attack which began on March 21. Whether because
further progress was impossible in the face of increasing
resistance or the sharpening of the angle which has been
driven into the allied positions was not considered safe,
the lines around the apex of that angle remain about
as they were a week ago. There has been heavy fighting,
and thousands Of lives have been sacrificed in the strug-
gle for points of vantage, but the results gained by either
party in that district appear to be of local importance
only. The heaviest blows have been struck, and the
greatest advantage gained by the Germans north of Ar
ras. There the battle assumed the propositions Of q
major engagement, and a German advance of some six
or seven miles is reported. What was left Of the town
OF Armentieres was partially surrounded, and the place
WAS evacuated by the British. who withdrew to positions
which permitted the Strengthening Of their line at that
point.
At this time the German intent remains undisclosed.
Several possibilities exist. The battle in Picardy, gigantic
though it has been, may be intended merely as a pre-
lminary to a real offensive to be developed in the north,
with Calais as its objective. The northern movt may be
a feint to distract the attention of the allies from the
real center of operations in the Somme valley. Or the
attack north of Arras may be intended to connect up
with that in the south, the extension anording a wider
base from which to operate in q steam roller progress
down the valley Of the somme to the sea. In any Of
these possibilities, as with others which may suggest
themselves, there is apparent the purpose Of the Germans
to separate the British and French forces by driving a
wedge between them. III that should be accomplished.
the Germans would occupy an interior position with the
fvo forces onnoaad ia than rondorod ~ aiding
each other with material or reserves. The obvious course
would be to attack and dispose Of whichever Of these
forces appeared the more vulnerable, and then to pay
attention to the other
The situation in France is graver now than it has
been since the Germans were halted at the Marine in
1914. Nothing can disguise that fact, and it ought not
to be disguised. Some appreciation of that fact may be
gained from the order by General Haig just issued, that
there must be no further retirement, and that the lines
must be held at any cost. Heretofore both British and
French have retired in order to save their men. Ter
rible punishment has been inflicted on the advancing
Germans, and, while the casualties of all parties have
been enormous, the allies have suffered less than the
Germans. The latter have sent their men forward in
great waves, new men coming forward to take the places
of those shot down, until the defense was overwhelmed
by weight Of numbers, and was compelled to give way
or be annihilated. This process has continued as long
As is considered safe. and now the lines are to be held
regardless of cost if it is possible to hold them.
All that is known of the American forces is that the
body which has held a section Of line near Toul has been
able to beat off a strong attack without great loss, and
that the men who have been briEaded with the British
J, and French are somewhere in the fighting. Lists Of
American casualties numbering several hundred alto
gether have been received, but the dates on which these
81 casualties were sustained are not given. 1t is supposed.
however, that they date from the beginning of the somme
battle. when American engineers threw down their tools
md seized their weapons and joined with the British in
that fight
sMAgs The situation at this time is SO acute that important
news is likely to be contained in the dispatches received
III Before this summary is published. There will be intense
anxiety as to whether the allies can now succeed in stop
III ping the Germans and holding them where they are, a.
SADpears to be the definite intention, and as to the de-
9sAyeiopnnent Of measures on the part OF the allies to use
Ne reeseryss which they are presumed to have in an Of
SSxegpaiye movemegt Of their own. While interest centera
sa4F0und the fighting In France and Belgium. other frontl
NOT 10 be ignored. There has been 4 nasanE OF
aaSs44ssops on the Italian front and m Austrian offensive Il
NabgilsysA 70 be due The Italian army In Sthat district
bssn reossaniaed. ana IL believed Is be cspable OF
sHSS1b4.g - excellent defense. and it has been srsntgh-
~ British "a French reinforrements But, should
AnnistrfanS succeed ~ brssking fhrsuEh,s thsrs would
ISl9ee4Atsly " aasthsr IIfsnch front ~ tie ssuth u a.
1T6 aa4 - latua4Lon would taIso. J ~ asppss<e4
&$SS%S@sN%S 9sss ss ~ sss#A@
Re #8snn q nsseAsass ii me Rpnaaa sttpat,gaswhie
Abe4aes s,Ssar u IS impSrrtantz Gsssssn troop,
1IfNse ~ Advanss into the country. ma a. EpSss,
@G11y5l1k sss.Asrs spesar. = r. ps.rdsd ~ a.