The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-31
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF The WAR
(By The Associated Press.l }

PIunging northward from Sergy,
American troops have made a bril-
liant and important advance in des-
perate fighting and apparently have
opened the way for further success
full operations against the Germans
in the Marne salient.
Enemy resistance of the stoutest
character was no obstacle for the
Americans and they now are on tho
Fere"en Tardenois' CouIonees bigh-
way south Of the forest of NesIea.
The advance by the Americans late
Tuesday afternoon measured a little
less than two miles. French troops
on the wings also moved forward
and allied pressure on the west and
east flanles of the pocket 10 being
maintained with force.
In their advance the Americans
drove new wedge into the enemy
line and the allies arc now in a posi-.
ton to drive the Germans back by
flank movements, both east and west
OF the head of the apex which lies
German line from NesIes region
southwark through Cierges to Ron
cheres. The line is almost four miles
in length and offers an opportunity
to drive the Germans from the re-
| gion southwest Of Vile en- -Tarde
enois without a frontal attack against
the hills TO the south.
Strong efforts have been made by
the enemy TO check the allies on the
fIanks and seemingly they have been
successful. Attempts to drive the
French from ST. Euphraise, an impor-
tant point southwest of Rheims on
the eastern flank however were de-
feated with losses. Berlin says the
fighting front was quiet Tuesday and
that allied efforts Monday were re.
pulsed everywhere.
AMERICANS OPPONENTS.
Some of Germany's supposedly best
divisions, the Fourth Prussian guard
and a Bavarian division, were oppo~
nents of the American boys from tho
middle west and eastern states. The
Americans had outfought them Mon
day in the battle for Sergy and de-
feated them badly Tuesday, although
the enemy fought VaIiantIy.
The Germans were driven over the
ridge north Of ssrgy and out of the
Villages of Serinqes- ct. Nesles and
Nesles. Bitter fighting took place in
both places, but when night fell the
only Germans remaining In the viii
lagos were dead, victims of the ir own
VaIor. Few prisoners were taken so
desperate was the combat, which rag
ed throughout the entire day. Nesles
forest probably will be defended as
stoutIy as was the ground already
taken by the Americans. Machine
gun and artillery fire forms the main
part Of the enemy defense. German
she'll fire from the forest, however,
has had little effect against the
Americans. The allied position about
ture of Hill 212 to the southeast and
which commands Cierges.
Determined countering by the
enemy during the last 4S hours may
indicate that the German Crown
Prince believes he has withdrawn far
enough and is prepared for heavy
| fighting before again moving north
ward. It is not improbable however,
that the allied pressure has been 50
| forceful that he has been compelled
to resort to the strongest sort Of
rear guard fighting to protect the
guns and stores still within the
Salient GSHSFat 7 0CH &PPAt SiAty
believes he can drive the Gern&ns 20
the VesIe or beyond and the RmerI-
can success. is a step in that diree'
ton.
in Flanders the allied position has
been improved further through the
capture of Merris by Australian
troops. Merris is inT1ediatel ly north
of Meteren, taken by Scottish troops
last week. Field Marshal Haig's nib
biina in Flanders and Picardy is haV'
ina Increasing success. In the taking
of Merris the Australians captured
1859 prisoners and some trench NOR
tars and machine guns. The Ger
mans are retaIiating by bombardIn9
the new positions.
Reports received in Stockholm are
said to indicate that the fall OF the
BoIshevi< government before an arm
ed uprising of worE<men and peasants?
is approaching. The American and
allied embassies TO Russia have
reached kandaIaska, in Russian Lap"
land, after having been ordersa from
Voloada by the 5olshevik govern
nent, which wanted them TO come
to Moscow and is reported 10 have at"
tempted TO hold them in Archangel.
The American and allied consuIa In
Moscow remain at their posts.