The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-13
The War for the Week


Four widely separated war theaters have dis
puted the spotlight position in the war news
for the week just closing These theaters are
the western front Albania. Moscow. and the
surrounding territory. and the V1adivostok dis
trict.
Throughout the week the British and French
have continued their policy Of sudden attacks on
restricted front and for certain definite OBJ
tectives. These attacks have been most success
full on the whole and the Allied line is being
greatly strengthened by the capture of strong
local positions. These attacks have resulted
in the capture of from 1000 to 5000 prisoners
during the last seven days. and the total Ger
man casualties must be greatly in excess Of that
figure
The attacks this week were concentrated on
the front nearest Paris, chiefly on the sector
between SCISSORS and Chateau Thierry. This
line. which is about thirty miles in length Is
the westerly side Of the salient driven in between
SCISSORS and Rheims in the last great drive by
the Germans. It is not more than SO miles from
Paris. The southerly end of it around Chateau
Therry is held by Americans, and the northern
end by the French The French during the week
took the villages OF sorcy and Longpont and
many smaller hamlets and farms. The entire
line is now said to consist Of very strongly
trenched positions well connected and organized,
and any attempt to advance directly on Paris
would prove a very costly move for the Ger
mans.
Purpose Not Clear.
The purpose Of these carefully planned and
vigorously executed local attacks is not yet
clear. They may be for the purpose Of fortify
ing the line against the expected German drive
which may break at any moment, or they may
be feeling out" process designed to be the
forerunner of Allied offensive. The unex-
pected rapldity with which American forces
have gone into the fighting may have advanced
the date at which the Allies expected to resume
the initiative. The events Of the next few weeks
or perhaps of the next few days. will settle this
point.
Good News From Albania.
Albania furnished some unexpectedly good
news for the Allies during the week. The Allied
line week ago, was based on Avlona, which is
just across the Adr!atic from the heel Of the
boot of Italy. From Avona the line ran almost
directly east just to the south of Lake Ochrida,
and then turned north and ran north Of the i'm
portant city OF Monastir, and from there south
east to the Aegean sea northeast of Salonik
The western end Of this line has been held by
the Italians, and next to them were French,
Greeks and British. Austrian troops faced the
Italians and Austrtans, Bulgarians and Turks
the other allies.
The Italians, on Sunday, started a drive along
wide front all the way from Avlona to Lake
Ochrida, and they have advanced more than fiji
teen miles northward, until their left wing Is
based on the Adriatic north Of Fteri and
their right wing on Lake Ochrida. They have
taken the important city Of Berat and some large
stores Of Austrian supplies besides inflicting
some severe losses the Austrians.
Purpose of Drive.
The offensive here is important for
several reasons. In the first place. Of
course, any move that dsposes Of Austrian SOL
d.ers or Austrian supplies, Is important in itself
to the efforts Of those who are working for the
independent Slav state in Austria. for this is
part of the territory they covet. In the third
place it is a diversion which must draw strength
from the Austrian front the Pave where
Emperor Carl's forces are already hard pressed.
And lastly, it may develop into an important
thanking movement which will make possible an
extension Of the offensive along the entire AL
bantam line. Another advance Of fifteen miles
would probably force the Austrians and Bull
garians to the east Of Lake Ochrida to rectfy
their lines and retire from the district between
Lake Ochrida and Lake Presba It is doubtful
if an advance all the way to Trieste is even
contemplated, for it would be across very Diff
ficult country The more probable purpose is to
remove any threat against the western end Of
the Allied line and make possible a drive into
Bulgaria If it is considered feasible. With the
newly reorganZed Greek army the Allies must
have nearly 1000, 900 in Albania and Mace
donia, and this would be a very formidable force
If 1t were in position to advance without leaving
both flanks unprotected.
The Russian News.
The growing Importance Of the Czecho- Slav
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