The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-25
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF WAR

France has thrown the weight Of
her forces Into the great battle rag
1 ina on the western front and the
| British and French armies are now
battling together against the on
| slauuhE of the common enemy In hls
desperate attempt to break through
the allied line.
The British armies are holding fast
along the line Of the Somme and also
in the region north Of Bapaume, Field
Marshal Haig reports today. The
| Germans i1 the latter section reach
ed the British trenches at only one
point and there they were immed-
lately eIseted. Their assaults else
where were smothered by the British
| fire with great losses to the enemy.
On the Somms line bodles Of Ger
man troops which had succeeded in
forcing their way across the river
between Lieourt and Brie, south OF
Peronne, were driven back 20 the
essterIy bank. On both sides of the
Bapauns the German attacks ware
resumed.
The greatest danger point at pres
ent seems TO be further south, where
the Germans apparently have driven
through the greater width Of the re-
vion they devastated in retiring in
| 1917, as the Paris statement today
reports heavy fighting In the region
Of Noyon. This town itself 10 some
ten miles to the west Of Chauny In
the region Of which Berlin yesterday
reported the rspulss Of Franco Am.
SFioan reserves but the German ad-
vance probably has been met con-
sidsrably short Of Noyon.
WEDGE ia DEEP ONE
The wedge driven into the allied
line is evidently q desp one az the
French troops are reported by Paris
TO be eontestlng for the heights to
the north of the Disc, with important
German forces. The Disc on this
part Of the front runs southwest past
Chauny and passes to the south Of
Noyon.
Persistent attacks with strong
forces Of infantry and lavish use OF
artillery have not enabled the Ger
mans to break through the British
defense and, after four days, the
France has not yet brought q deeis-
ion. Heaviest fahtina is in progress
around 8apaume, near PaFonns and
whore the French and British fronts
join.
Field Marshal Halg's Withdrawal
has been executed in q manner de-
seribed as mastery and great credit
for les success 10 given 20 the small
units which, sometimes outnumbsr.
ed eight or nine 10 one, impeded the
German advance. The British have
made few counter attacks, but every
one attempted has been successful.
BFiti9h efforts are osnteFed on with
drawing as occasion requires and
permitting the enemy 90 wear him
self out before the British defense.
The fighting In the north Sunday
resohod the old battle field Of the
somms from which the Germans re-
treated q year ago. Bapaums 10 the
key position between Arras and Al
bert and Berlin reports that a
"sisantie struggle" is being made for
ita possession. PeFonns ia claimed
by the Germans, but heavy fighting
is taking place around il. Between
Bapaume and Peronna the Germans
have reached the TransIoy- Com
bless Maurspas line, held by the.
British.
On the south, where the sanguinary
struggle has not halted for many
houro, the Germans have reached
chauny, an important point on the
Disc river southwest Of La Fsrs.
FN&F@y H0W&AW&FH GW@tF M6@AW9W H@N
not been 80 great as directly west or
ST. Quentin, where they have pro-
gressed more than 10 miles. The
British and French battle lines meet
near Chauny and the French lines
along the Chsmin- Des- Danes and
eastward toward Rheinin would be
naenaeed " the Germans advanced as
far as compeians, on the road 20
Paris. Compeigne IL 10 miles south
west Of Chauny.
The intensity Of the struggle is
shown By the official announcement
that British aViatora on Sunday
brouuhk down fifty-four enemy ma
chimes. The British lost only nine.
IN addition, British airmen again
have dropped bombs on MannhsinlI
Germany.
Berlin claims that Franco -Ameri-
can detaehmsnts aided the British IN
the fighting Saturday, but the idsn
city Of the American units has not
been learned. Berlin aI1o has an
nouncsd the capture Of Ham, be-
tween Psronns and chauny, and
claims that the number Of prisoners
has increased 70 $1,000.