Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-25

EVENING. MAY rs, 1918.
EVENTS OF A WEEK
Another week has passed without a RESUMPTION of
the German offensive. although at all points along tho
western line the tension has been great, and movements
observed by allied airmen indicate that the Germans
nave been constantly massing and rearranging their
troops. evidently for a fresh blow which is expected to
DO launched somewhere in the somme district. When
the activity Of the Germans slackened after their great
drive which began two months ago, it was assumed that
some time would elapse before a similar movement was
undertaken. In the territorial gains which they made
in their first offensive the Germans got an unmerciful
pounding. Many Of their units were literally cut to
pieces. and when the advance was stopped it was out
OF the question to resume it without giving their shat
tered divisions a chance to rest and reform. Heavy
inroads had been made on their reserves, and time for
the betterment Of their condition was imperative.
This accounts In part for the delay. There was also
the fact that time must be allowed for the bringing
up of heavy artillery in order to strike from a fresh
base. While time was passing the allies were not idle.
They had stemmed the German advance and held their
lines unbroken. And in the period of waiting they have
improved their own positions and strengthened weak
spots in their lines. So vigorously have they pressed this
work that in the engagements of the past two weeks it
is the allies rather than the Germans who have taken
the offensive. In Flanders the French carried out a
successful assault in the vicinity of Locre which won
them considerable ground and some 400 prisoners In
the somme valley the British have been hacking at the
Germans with good results, and the Americans have
done their share of nibbling at the, German lines.
49, .fa . 80
Observers tell US that the effect Of all this has been
to confuse the plans Of the Germans very materially.
Instead Of waiting securely on the reformation of their
strenpfh uhno an oYhaNsted aSvoroorp mo
the Germans have been compelled to defend themselves
at a dozen points from attacks which, If not successfully
withstood, would have been disastrous to them, and the
work of preparation for further operations has therefore
been attended with great difficulties. In the meantime
fresh American troops are pouring in. and more and
more do tho Americans make their presence felt. How
long the Germans can afford to postpone their fresh
attack is q matter Of guess work, but. as has been said
many times. they are in a position where they must con-
tinue to advance or they are lost. There is for them no
such thing as quitting or standing STILL.
ssss
For the third time since the war began a troop
ship carrying American soldiers has been torpedoed. On
Friday evening the dispatches told Of the sinking Of the
Moldavta, which was carrying American troops from
England to France. Tho number Of men carried has
not been stated at this time. but a feeling Of relief was
experienced by those who read the dispatches when they
learned that the list Of missing was not more than Sc.
The possibilities Of a great death list in the sinking Of a
loaded transport are SO great that such a small loss seems
remarkable.
sssss
Tho flrst Incident Of this Kind was the sinking Of
tho Antilles She was sunk In October while returning
10 this country from Europe and 70 soldiers were lost.
Tho second on tho list was the Tuscania, which wa
sunk early IN February with a loss Of 100. The Mol
6avia Is the third on tho list with a loss Of about 50.
Within a little over a year there have been sent across
the ocean andsinto France something like three-quarters
Of q million American soldierl Assuming an average of
1000 men TO the ship this would have required some $50
voyages the eastern portion OF which was through wa
ters patrolled BY German submarines as thoroughly as
the Germans are able to patrol them. When We consider
that of all these voyages but three thus far have been
Interrupted. and that Of All these hundreds Of thousand.
pressed with i sense Of the thoroushness with which
the British and American naval forces have been able to
organize their protective work
s 8 = - = . . - aaf
The work Of transporting American troops across
& the ocean has been speeded up in 4 remarkable manner
information comes from the war department that dur.
Ing the first ten days Of May 10000 men were sent acroal
the Atlantic and landed safely In France. This II m
average Of 5000 n day Quietly ana silently, often In
~ darkness Of night, these mon. thousands after thou
snds. hxye taken their places on board the transports
a.45 put out "a - from ports which arc unnamed. And
Zip after shitps al. arrived safely ~ ~ destination and
1Eessharsed A. hpnsn freisht eiudins sysry peril.
M mllens q sAAtisps men whom NJ president M
Ssxgykortssd "a Ncrals IN .oon have been enrolled. 10
SSSShsr Win ssysrel hundred thousand -vho havs been
sA111 40 sts. & Az bssalnnins 8 ths vi