The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-22
7OYOVNAY FALL BEFORE TRENCH ADV DVAWCE AWY MONENT
LIES HAVE Cultured 100000 PRISONERS SINCE July rs
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF The WAR
(Rv AssocIated Prese. J


Allied blows on the 12o- mile front
force the Germans back and the
enemy appears unable to stay the
attacks which increasingly threaten
the stability Of his defensive system
in France.
On four sectors the troops under
Marshal Foch are hitting the Ger
man positions for good gains. Un
less the Germans want TO sacrifice
men needIessIy to defend partly out
flanked saIients il would appear the
time is close at hand for an enemy
retirement.
The security of Noyon and the
salient about it seems most precar-
ious as the armies Of Generals Hum
bert and Manqin press forward from
the south and west. The menace of
the French blow hero also includes
the German positions from the
SomnHe TO SCISSORS and probably to
Rheims.
General Byna's successful attack
between Albert and ATras apparently
is aimed at the important base of
Bapaune and If driven deep would
outflank the enemy positions north
Of the Somme TO the Ancre.
Already the British are within four
miles of Bapaume from the west
and their progress continues. Earth
er north the British maintain the
pressure which slowly is fatteninq
out the Lys salient.
RESISTANCE RELAXES.
With the fall of LassIany and the
high ground surrounding It, the
German resistance in that region is
said 70 be relaxing. From Laasigny
General Humbert is in a position TO
outflank Roye and Noyon by adVanc-
ing toward NesIe. The French also
are moving toward Noyon along the
west bank of the Disc, south of
where il curves to the east.
Southeast of Noyon General Man
gins troops have reached the river
Oise near Pontoise, three miles from
pushed farther northward toward
the. Disc, capturing additional towns
and villages. General Mangin has
increased by several thousands the
10000 prisoners taken up to Tuesday
night. On his left flank, which IL
driven eastward, would make unten-
able the German line north of the
VesIe, enemy resistance apparently
hae held up progress for the mo-
ment.
In the new operation north of the
NnCFS hIs BTtAlSH nave ADVANCED an
average of three miles on q ten mile
front and have reached the Albert
Arras railroad, crossing il on the
northern end Of the attacking front.
On the north the British have ad-
Vaneed to Mercatel, which is almost
on the old Hindenburg line as il
was before the Arras offensive of
TIE Germans suffered heavy loss
es in General syngfs surprise
attack and the number of prisoners
and guns is said to be increasing
hourly. Around Merville, at the
line has been pressed more to the
east, On the northern flank of the
salient the British gained some
ground near Lovre and took 1873
prisoners.
"NibbIing" on a large scale
might describe Marshal Foch's tao
tics most fittingly. BY successful
and successive bites into the German
positions here and there he is stead
lily undermining the entire enemy
defensive structure. He has forced
the Germans to move their guns far
to the rear to prevent their capture
and to attempt to hold the first lines
with machine guns and as small
number Of troops as possible. The
enemy system of defense, however,
has not prevented the allies from
going through IL for several miles
five miles have been gained between
the Oise and the Aisns in four days
and threaten important bases.
For more than a month now the
Germane have tasted only defeat
and it is reported unofficiaIIy that
since July 1s, the enemy has lost
100000 prisoners alone.
Berlin, in "a brief statement on
Wednesdays operations, says that
the British attacks north of the An
ere, "broke down with heavy losses"
Between the Disc and the Aisne,
where the French advanced, il re-
ports that new attempt TO "break
through" failed. Nothing is said of
the situation about Lassiany.
On the Italian mountain front east
Of Lake Garda the Austrians have
become more active. Two attacks
against Italian positions have been
repuised, while the enemy artillery
fire has been heavier.