The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-04
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF The WAR
(By Associated Press.)

push through the Woten line as far
as the Canal Du Nord and as yet
their progress is not reported
checked. Already the wedge they
have driven into the German defenses
In the sector between the railway
centers of Douai and Cambrai is a
| menace TO the Germans, who must
stop the British IL the enemy hopes
70 save these bases, vital points In the
German defense system in the west.
Disorganixation in the German
ranks 10 reported Ia official advices
from the front and there seems more
than a possibility that the enemy
commands will not be able TO recon-
Struct it's defensive formations even
In time to hold up the British tenn.
PorariIy along che canal positions.
he main feature Of the British
push seems 60 be in the direction of
Camorai along both the Raupaune-
Cambrai and Arras- -Camhrai roads
and In che Terrins territory lying
north Of the highway. In this area
they are reported to have captured
the towns Of Inehy- En- -Artois and
MoeuVrea. This represents an ad-
vance Of between three and one.haIf
and four miles since yesterday be-
ous "switeh" line at Queant.
Further south the British likewise
have reached the line Of the canal
we'll down TO Peronne on the Somme,
making their front along this artl-
Sicial waterway ooVer an extent Of
moro than 20 miles. AZ q matter Of
fact they are reported to have even
crossed the canal along its southern
length, Just 20 the north of Peronne
The menace to both Camhrai and
pouaiX may be called by the fact that
the British are within five and q half
miles of the outskirts of the former
tant from Douai. At Che -Artois they
are 4 little moro than two miles
from the Bourlan wood position,
whore General 5ynu was temporarily
anchored in his drive at cambrai last
fall, marking what was virtually his
nearest approach TO the city.
In Byng's drive, however, the Brit
ish approached Cambrai on only Al
narrow front, whence q German
counter attack on the flank ousEed
them disastrouslys whereas at pres-
ent the advance 10 on a far wider
front and offering no apparent ops
blow, especially In che present re-
ported state of German disoreaniza-
tion from the constant pounding the |
enemy armies have received ,alI along |
the front from Rheims to Arras since |
nTid-Juiy.
To the north the Germans are still |
In retreat and the British have oceu- |
pied additional towns in the Lys aals
isnts The snen1y's reported retire |
gs1erE in the sector south Of Labsssse |
has not been. confirmed, however, and |
MPR~ uAt
holding the greater part of the coal |
mining city Of Lens in this area, al-,I
though the British are understood to |
be in the western section of the town. |
On the French front, General Man
pin's army has made important prog
ress in the direction Of the forest Of |
st. Gobain, which defends Laor. His |
forces have reached the edge of the /
important town of Couey- lie Chateau
and have pushed further eastward in
their thanking movement to the north
of Scissors.
While the western front battle is in
full swing, with the Germans hard
pressed, news comes of an attack by
forces Of the central powers on the
allied line along the Vardar river in
Macedonia. This move may be an at
tempted diversion on the part of the
central empires Rs its development |
would threaten the allied base at Sa-
lonlki and the territory of Greece.
The attack does not appear to have
had important results, however, aa
the official statement from the Brit
ish war office announces that the
enemy was driven back by a counter
blow.
At no place alona the battle line
from Soissons to Flanders
has the enemy been able to resist the
allied armies in sufficient strength to
cause q halt in the offensive move
msnt.
The Germans, after repeated de-
feats at various points, have given
ground apparently content to cover
their retreat with rear guard actions.
Failure of the Germans TO counter
attack for the possession of the Dro-
court ousant line gives added cred
enee to unofficial reports that still
another line has been prepared-a
switch line from 5rebieres to Moeuv-
res-and that here a valiant effort
will be made 20 stem the tide of the
battle. The British already have
reached Rumaucourt, q short dis
tanee from this new line and both
from the north and the south they
are approaching it.
While the greatest progress con-
tinues 10 be made southeast and east
Of Arras momentous events apparent
" are impending north of scissors.
Here Genera! h4sHsin has for several
days been pushing forward in q slow
but steady advance until he now /
holds the key position to the Vesle
front from which, if their movements
are an Indication Of their plan of (
the Germans plan 10 re-
treat back of the Aisne or TO the
Chemin pes DANES. The Germans
have been forced cut of the AiIeE&e II
river sector and the main defenses of
the Hindenburs line are endangered. II
A thrust by the Franco American
forces at this place would be a seri-
ous menace TO the German lines east
Of Soissons. I'll
The British continue to make
progress in the Lys salient, where (
and Sc. Vast have been
captured. In the vicinity of Lens a
furious battle still 10 In progress for
HE possession of that city. Lens is
one Of the strongest points Of the
German defenses in the north. IL was B
captured by the British yes
sePday but apparently is not yet H
cleared Of defenders, ii
East of QueanE the British have j
advanced as far as Earalie and the
enemy's positions as Cambria is en-
daBgsred, BaFalle is eight miles west
and the British advance will soon
bring Cambrai under artillery fire.
South of GueanE 20 Perongia, EEie H
British have advanced and further
south the French have crossed the
canal F1n MnRd sud r@eg5FyfnI Gagapanu