The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-31

ther notable advances
II has been another week OF almost uninter-
rupted victories for the Allies. II is no longer
necessary to try to be hopeful in viewing the war
map; the only danger to guard against Is too
great optimism and the feeling that the war
viii soon be over.
It is well enough to hope for a decisive victory
this year, and this is beginning to seem possible
but 1T would be a fatal mistake to begin to count
on 1t and relax the war effort. That would be
the sure way to prevent such victory.
The "cashing in" process this week consisted in
the retirement Of the German armies back OF
the somme line Th@t was made necessary by
last weeks advance, and it was only q question
Of time until It took place.
This advance was important but it was less
important or at least less significant than the
British advance along the scarpe. for this is
opening the way to still more notable successes,
while the former movement had been discounted
almost wholly.
The movements Of the week might fall natural
~ into these two classifications, and the cash
ing inn will be considered first
"cashins In.
When the British outfIanled Bapaune on the
north and brought that center under direct fire,
last week, they forced a retirement of the Ger
mans north OF the somme, to the Bapaume
Peronne line. Likewise the capture by the
French Of the high ground around Lassigny and
of Roye and later Noyon, made certain a retire
ment of all the forces south of the somme to the
Peronne Ham line These froces were caught in
a quadrangle which was referred to a week ago
in this column. This quadrangle was formed by
the right angle of the Somme river, and. the
British and French forces from Bray to Roye It
was predicted that the Germans would have to
retire across the somme or be caught in this
quadrangle by thanking movement toward Ham,
and this was just what happened. With the
fall of Noyon the retreat became precipitate, and
the French were able quickly to clean out the
district between Noyon and Ham. The British
also advanced rapidly and Friday night it was
announced that all the Germans had been cleared
from the west bank OF the somme. (The Somme
it must be remembered, runs east and west to
Peronne, where it turns at right angles and runs
directly north and south. 1t therefore has
north, south east and west banks.)
The "cashing in" movements OF the Allies dur
ing the week therefore brought them up to the
Bapaume- Peronne- Ham line, and there was the
possibility that the Germans would make de-
termined stand there since the line possesses
many defensive advantages. The somme is not
a wide river, but 1t has marshy banks at this
point.
Stand Made impossible,
But here is where the Importance OF the Brit
ish victories to the north reveal their full sig
nembered, is based the important railroad
and highway centers of Lille, Douai Cambria ST.
Quentin and La Fere. These cities are the chief
distributing points for supplies Without good
supply lines any defensive position loses most of
its value. The British, by their advance east of
Arras, crossed the Hindenburg line on a front
of several miles, penetrating 1t to depth of four
or five miles at some points, The point of pence
tration, as win be seen from the map was about
"a
aces both of these important eenters In fact.
both of them must be within range of
the Allied artillery The British blow is aimed
at the very vitals OF the German defense system,
and the. attacks during the week showed that
General Haig was less concerned with deepening
it at once than in twisting the knife in the wound.
He drove southeast and south trying to roll
up" the Hindenburg line and widen the breach.
He also attacked south OF Lens to widen it to
the north. He is astride both the Douai-Arras
and the Arras- Cambria roads. and within few
hundred yards of the so called Queant- Drocourt
line, which is q short but very strongly en-
trenched auxiliary defense of the cities Of Douai
and Cambria.
Results Of Advance.
This penetration of the Hindenburg line has an
immediate and more remote Significance. 1t
outfanked Bapaume and resulted in its capture.
which will doubtless mean an almost immediate
burg line. A stand may be made on the somme
to slow up the Allied advance, but it does not
now seem possible that the Germans can avert
an immediate retreat to the Hindenburg line
from CroiseHes all the way to La Fere. The
somme already has been crossed at one point
That will wipe out virtually all that remains of
the German gains since March 81.
The more remote result will be the fate of the
Hindenburg line ITSELF and during the ne&t week
some desperate fighting may be expected between
Lens and Marcoing on the Hndenburg line and
behind it. The Germans must check the AL
lied advance there unless they would risk losing
virtually all the French territory they now hold
If the Lille Douai- Cambria positions are relins
pushed, it win probably involve retirement
from Belgium and on a line ali the way from
yerdun north. There lis the further possibility
Of an American blow some place on the line east
of Rheims, which would serve ais the other jaw
of a great pincers
Germans pisoFaanized.
But scarcely less significant than these tree
mendous strategic possibilities are the reports OF
the disorganized condition of the German armies
There are reports OF divisions composed of scat
tered units from eight or ten different divisions
being thrown into the battle There are reports
of Germans surrendering in large bodies, and re-
fusing to go back into the fighting line The
continued Allied advance has left the German
morale at low ebb, and there has been no time
to reform divisions disorganized by hard fight
ing. Where weeks usually are devoted to this
process, the divisions are now thrown back into
the battle after two or three days rest and with
their companies unrecruited and gaps untitled
The men are sullen and often openly mutinous
at this treatment