The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-28
CHEERF ILLNESS
CHARACTERISTIC.
OF FRENCH ARMY.
IN GREAT BATTLE.
Correspondent Finds Moth
ing But Perfect Conf
a dence In Outcome
SOME INCIDENTS
OF GREAT HEROISM
Germans Advanced in
Waves, Exhausted, Max
ing Way for Fresh Men
nv Assoc1atad Fress.l

With The French Army in France
Tuesday, March &c, Evening" ne
German effort by terrific rush 10
get between the French and brltisil
forces, with the object Of defeating
each separat ely, has failed up to the
present, and is likely to continue TO
fail The fighting qualities of the
allied soldiers have served IN stay
the Impulsive advance, and today the
AnEIo-French line is on strong posi-
tlons.
The next few days NAV change the
situation entirely as the allies nave
had time to get their 'maneuVeTlng
reserve" TO take the initiative, Noyon
was evacuated late last night in good
order. and the French took up a posi-
ton nearby.
The correspondent passed today
among troops who have borne a great
share in the fighting of the last hEe
DAYS, Everywhere Cheerfulness was
to be found and perfect confidence in
the future. Nowhere has the cores
pondent seen such splendid morale
among troops after long, hard fight
ing more especially when those
troops had to fall back. Both officers
and men. whether French or British
tell narratives Of wonderful heroiFm
Unsthe part Of individuals and units.
Gunners' Heroisr1.
The Eunners Of A battery Of French
75s I'm the neighbOrhood Of Chauny
were surrounded for three days with
out food, but fought until the last
round was fired, then taking advant-
age Of some confusion among the
Germans in the course Of the third
night, thew somehow made their way
through the encirclinE foes and es-
caped carrying their wounded COM
= fs
instance among many similar daring
deeds.
Men belonging to a dismounted
French cavalry corps, acting as
infantry fought a rear guard action
day after day against immense odds. |
The troops declare that the enemy
came forward in such deep waves
that 1t was only necessary to fire
point blank to hit with certainty.
These cavalrymen tired into the
enemy so rapidly that the Germans |
fell in swaths: vet still others came !
on. until the French defenders were |
compelled to cease, because both rifles !
md machine guns were red hot.
Came In Waves.
The advance OF the Germans was |
similar in character everywhere, !
wave succeeding wave in closest sue |
Cession, only to be shot down. It |
was something ike a relay race !
when the first German division was |
exhausted, another Immediately took |
its place. In some cases a single !
division Of the allies. while retiring, |
was attacked excessively by six |
German divisions.
The allies stood the test most |
couraEeouslv. but such a continued |
series Of shocks from fresh troops |
was bound to tell on tired rIen. and |
eventually the allies were forced to /
give way. But they did so still fight !
ing. It is known that one Bavarian |
division lost so per cent Of its |
strength.
IL was clearly apparent that the |
German high command rely on this |
method of sacrifice TO break through. !
The French staff derives considera BILE /
satisfaction from the fact that many .
German divisions were thus put out +.
of the battle line. at least for the |.
period required for their reConstruC- !
tion and in this way a great part Of |
the German reserve was used u2,
while the allies merely called upon
their immediate reserves. !
Further powerful attacks are ex-
pected but it is difficult to foresee at
the moment where these will take
place. It NAV be said, however, that /
the situation is fully in hand and the
strongest kind of fighting may be
looked for.