The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-25

treme severity marks the fighting on
g greater portion of the front. Good
ly gains are being made by the
French tnd Americans between the
Ourcq and the Marine and by the
British southwest of Rheims. Stead
lily as allied pressure has forced the
Germans back within the pocket
formed by the battIeIines, the Ger
man defensive efforts have increas-
ed in ferocity due to- the continuous
allied offensive, therefore in one
week not only has brought the fifth
German offensive to a hasty halt but
has turned it into a disastrous re-
pulse and also forced the enemy to
bring in reserved troops from other
fronts. Military observers in Paris
believe that the German command is
preparing for a new blow against
the allies in order to counter balance
the situation on the Rheims Sois-
sons front.
CLOSING IN ON BASE.
From the west along the Ourcq
and from the south and the French
and Americans are closing in on
Fere En- Tardenois, the German base
of supplies on the lower side of the
pocket. The town has been under
violent she'll fire for several days and
the enemy has made vicious counter
attacks which, although partly sue
cessfuI temporarily, finally were
turned into advances for the hard
hitting French and Americans. Not
only has Epied been retaken but the
Americans have advanced beyond
CourpoiI, five miles south Of Fere.
Between CourpoiI and the Marine the
French and Americans are fighting
their way forward through the
forests of Fere and Ris. Bridge
heads along the Marine have been
extended further.
side of the salient has been more
spectacular the steady allied pres
sure on the eastern side continues
| undated q and is making progress.
British troops around the important
point of Vrignyy three miles south Of
the VesIe and the Rheims Scissors
railroad, slowly are pressing the
enemy back. This advance not only
threatens the German lines west of
Rheims but places the enemy forces
between Vrigny and the Marine in
bad position. The terrain there is
billy and Wooded and there is still
quite a bulge in the German line.
The bulge on the western end of the
line was wiped out when the Ger
mans retired from Chateau Thierry.
UNcEAsING COMMANDMENT.
From all sides the allied army is
battering the Germans position un-
ceasingIy. Bombs by the hundreds
are being dropped with good effects
on dumps and depots. American
aviators are reported to have
brought down five German machines
in aerial combats north of the Marine
Wednesday.
The Germafi crown prince has not
yet been forced into a general re-
treat but not day of the allied Of
fensive has gone by without addi-
tionaI gains being made by the al
lied troops. Virtually all but one of
his lines of communication have
been lost and his position is be-
coming increasingly uncomfortable
as fresh troops in repeated efforts
fail to check the steady sweep for
ward of the allies.
Berlin continues to report that
all allied thrusts are being defeat
ed, using the adverb Completely"
in telling of Tuesdays fighting.
Similarly the German war office
describes the French advance toward
the Avre northwest of Montdidier,
in which the enemy lost 1850 pris.
oners, four cannon and 300 machine
guns, as of no effect.
In Albania the French have COM
pleted their present movement by
the capture of important heights and
the occupation of two additional vii
lagos.
British and allied shippinu losses
in June were the lowest in Il
months, or since September, 1916.
Losses due to German submarines
and mines and marine risk totalled
276,629 tons in June, the British
losses being $4,000 tons. Com
pared with May the sinkinqs in
June were $1,000 tons less and with
June, 1917, $4,000 tons less. The
losses for the quarter ending June 80
were the lowest for any quarter since
the third of 1916.