The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-20


front between scissors and Rheims and front
10 or Is miles each side Of these two cities this
week
, What may prove to be the most important bat
tie of the war since the first battle Of the Marine
in 1914 is developing there. In fact, II the AL
lies have the reserves available to push it, IT
may become the deciding battle of thes entire
war.
To study properly the present situation u is
necessary to go back to May q.
On this date the Germans began great Of
fensive-the third in the series which began
March 21-aimed to break through the Allied
lines between Scissors and Rheims. The Allies
met this blow by withdrawing troops from the
center to strengthen the TANKS. The Germans
were permitted to go through in the center with
comparatively little opposition, while the flanks
were gradually brought to a halt. This resulted
in a deep salient being created, with its point
resting at Chateau Thierry on the Marine river
The sides of this salient were Of about equal
length. some 30 miles One was based on sois-
sons and one on Rheims. The salient was also
some 80 miles deep from Chateau Thierry to a
line drawn between Rheims and SCISSORS.
An Awkward Position.
This salient proved very uncomfortable one
for the Germans as the lines of supply for the
troops within it were within range of the Allied
artillery on both sides, and the converging fire
made it difficult to keep the troops supplied.
Efforts were Immediately begun to widen the
salient at its base. First they tried to drive
westward and succeeded in making some gains,
taking Scissors. Then on July they launched a
terrific attack on very narrow front directly at
Rheims. The French held like rock at this
point
This was the situation at the beginning Of the
week. For two weeks previous, the Allies had
been nbbling away at the German line, taking
strategic points, and making things very uncom-
Portable for the German forces concentrated
within the letter V.
It was known that another German attack was
necessary unless the Germans were willing to
retire, for holding the salient was too difficult
and expensive. The blow was expected to fall
on the western side Of the salient toward Paris,
but on Monday the Germans struck on the east
ern side, attacking on a wide front Of more than
fifty miles, extending from Chateau Thierry at
the apex of the v, all the way north to Rheims
and then eastward along the old line. East OF
Rheims, the French again held firm, yielding
nothing. The only gains made were on the lower
half of the line from Chateau Thierry north about
20 miles.
Widen the Apex.
The Germans were able to widen the apex Of
the v until it assumed the appearance Of a great
U. They crossed the NGarne river where the
-
IA miles they held the south bank Of the Marine
The deepest penetration was about six miles.
The apex of the had been held by the Ameri-
cans and their forces joined or merged with the
French a short distance southwest Of Dormans.
By Tuesday the Germans were held, and coun-
ter attacks began.
The Americans in a dashing attack, cleared
their part Of the line and swept all the Germans
in their sector back across the Marine. The
hooly
MANY important positions, making the position
Of the remaining Germans to the south Of the
Marine extremely hazardous, as they were pushed
back until their bridges were within range Of
even the light and medium calibre artillery.
them became a very difficult and
hazardous operation, and from last reports these
troops were still fighting with their backs to the
river. a~ ...
BY Wednesday of this week the German driv-
ing power had become dissipated, and the big
attack had split into local operations. There
was no longer any concerted assault
GeieraE Foch Strikes.
Then on Thursday General Foch struck.
EARLY in the morning the Americans and
French went into action a front Of from rs
to 80 miles in the Scissors region. They were
hitting at the base Of the salient. Thursday they
advanced for a distance Of from to miles on
the whole front. The attack evidently surprised
the Germans for the resistance was weak, and
they retired in confusion. This is evidenced by
the large number of guns reported taken. They
had no time to remove their artillery. The
French claimed $1,000 prisoners and the Arnert-
cans 1000, in the first days fighting, and prob
ably 100 guns were taken in addition to count
less machine guns and other booty The Ger
man losses must have been terrific, for the
Allied machine gunners played upon the retreat-s
Ing forces.
Friday the attack was resumed, ana Friday
afternoon Scissors was reported captured.
Importance of Advance.
The Importance Of the advance is out OF all
to- the amount of territory won. The
Americans and, French are working the old
'pincers' movement most successfully, and the
position Of the Germans in the salient is rapidly
becoming critical Already the supply lines,
railroads and roads, are under a constant fire
rom the Allied artillery, and if the advance can
be- pushed there is an excellent chance Of CUT
ing off the entire German army in the salient.
Nearly 1000 900 men must be massed in this
great letter u and the problem Of the German
command is no longer to advances but to save
hese men from humiliation They must either
counter attack and win back SCISSORS or fight
heir way to safety retiring from the entire
salient. rr
It is all question Of reserves. If General
Toch has the men to push forward against the
apidly accommodating German reserves at sois-
ons he can turn the retreat Of the Germans into
. debacle 1t is a situation where a panic might
lie created, and a panic would spell humiliation.
# a great part of the entire German army in