The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-12
French Counter Attacks On
Western Wing Forced
Germans Into Pocket
NEW DRIVE SEEN AS
A SERIOUS THREAT
British and French Mill
tary Writers Comment
On Situation
(By Associated Press.l

German efforts to batter down the
French defenses between Montdidier
and the Oise, begun on Sunday,
seem to have been checked on the
third day Of the struggle.
On the western end Of the battle
line the French have counter at
tackled and regained important
ground. while on the center and right
repeated efforts by the enemy to
exploit his earlier successes have
been met with stern resistance from
the French. who claim the Germans
are being held.
At the moment when the plunge
Of the foe west Of the Disc appears
70 have met with reverse, the front
to the southeast between the Aisne
and Marine has again famed up.
Striking the allied lines southwest
OF scissors, in the neighborhood of
Dommiers, Cutry and south of Ami
ieny, @Lhe Germans have begun what
may be a very serious threat to the
security Of the allies north of the
Disc.
The new attack would seem, for
the moment. to be almost equal in
Importance to that east of Montdi-
dier. 1t appears to be an effort on
the part of the enemy to cut in south
OF Comptegne forest, outflanking the
French to the north and compelling
their retirement and a relocation OF
the whole allied line from Montdl-
der to Chateau Thierry.
Except for the fact that heavy
lighting Is in progress nothing is
known Of events of this new battle
area, but the struggle there will be-
watched with some concern until they
magnitude of German thrust is de-
veloped.
The French still hold the left banle,
Of the Disc, although they may have
readjusted their lines in the north /
ern sections Of the Orscamp and
Carlepont forests.
Their positions there. however, Will
become very awkward shou Id the
Germans drive west of Scissors and
make considerable ground.
The success of French counter att
tacks along the western wing of the
battle line has forced the Germans
into a. sort of pocket bounded on tho
east by the Disc river and on the
west by the high ground lying wes6
OF the MatZ. Squarely in front Of
this wedge the French appear to be
holding the foe, for the present as
least.
Although there has been a belief
that the German drive east of Mont
didier was planned at least in part,
for the purpose OF drawing allied re-
serves in the battlefields Of Picardyi
and Flanders nothing yet has occur /
red to indicate that the Germansi
contemplate an immediate attack at
Amiens. or toward the channel ports.
Only raiding operations are reported
by the British war office.
The French Report.
Paris. June I2.-The battle con@A
tinued during last night on the 'front.'
between Montididied and the river3
Oise, without great change in the
situation, the war office announces
today. On the French left additional I
progress was made by French troops !
in the region east Of Merry and Gem
lis wood.
Near the center. along the Aronde.
front, in the region OF st. Maur. the
Lodge farm and Antheuil. the French
repulsed violent attacks by the en-
emy.
The French are holding in that
part Of the battle area, south oE
Checincourt and Marest-Sur Matz.
Despite repeated efforts the Ger-s
mans on the French right were not
able to debouch on the south bank
Of the Matz river.
South OF the Aisne, on the front
between scissors and the Marne.
the Germans attacked this morning.
Fighting is going on between the
river and the Vil1ers-C -Cotterets for
est. Violent combats are being
fought on the front OF Dommiers,
Cutry and south OF AnbIeny.
The statement reads:
"The battle between Montdidier
and the Disc continued without great
change during the night. On our left
all attacks by the enemy against po-
sitions we had reconQuered were
broken.
The French troops have realized
new progress east OF Merry end the
Gentle wood. Violent German at
taclzs have likewise been repuIsed bg
the French on the Aronda front. ak
St MauE. the Ltoge farm and An=
theuil.
The french troops have withgtcod
the shock OF attacks and inflicted
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