The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-15
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR
(By Associated PreEa.)

ene MeI98 the aliied troops Gontluue
their vigorous blows for important
gains. As the French press on in
the Laon- -Aisne region the allied Of
Fensive In Belgium and the American
operations west of the Meuse are be-
ing renewed today with success.
Smashing their way through the
network of railways in western
Flanders, the Belgian, French and
British forces under King Albert are
now within two miles of the import
ant rail center of courtrai. The al
lies also dominate with their guns
the railroad running from Lille 20
the Belgian coast by way Of CouF-
trai and thus hamper If they have
not cut off, all rail communication
between ostGnd and Lille.
The German resistance in Flanders
appears to be only for the purpose
of delaying the allies until the
evacuation Of Belgium can be COM
pIeted. The enemy is reported to
be evaeuatins ostend and TO be
sending large boat loads Of troops
away from the coastal region.
Between the Disc and the Arsonne
the French are pressing the enemy
hard and giving him little chance to
diq in should ne desire TO do 80.
East of the Disc the French are
within q half mile of the serre along
most of it's length and have ad"
vaneed between FIVE and six miles
from Laon. Even the Aisns 10 be:
ina lost to the enemy as means OF
defense. The French now threaten
RetheI, having captured Nanfeui-
sur Aisne, two and one haif miles
west of Re&heI and about the same
distance of Chateau PSroetn'
Keeping step with the AmeF'ean
east of the AFsonne, fhe
French are moving forward "esS OF
the forest. West Of Grandpre' sen
eraI Gouraud has moved norfh OF
the Aisne and taken the towns OF
oIIzv and Termes, Strengthening cut
a BULGE in the allied line.
Between the Argonne and She
Meuse the Americans are battling
forward today through the German
wire advertisements. Tanks have been
up, specially in the region
,vest of Romasne. As on MONDAY
he Germans are resisting stubbornly
out satisfactory progress is being
savaeeIy attacking the German
ipes In BeIaium, British, French and
seluian forces have captured RouIers
~ carried their lines far toward
~ourfrai and Thourout. In reports
;roTy, the front there are indications
.hat the German lines have been
pierced and that the enemy 10 re-
treating rapidly. u
On the other extreme of the battle
ins American troops have earrled
their lines we'll past the hriemhiiu
position west of the meuse river
Thev are now holding front fhaE
runs from north of Cunei, norm On
aonaane and thence nerth"esteFIy
% the vicinity Of ST., Georges
sgf,3oh 'viLiayss fE turns TO the sosiahs
vest and H1eat6 the French lines At
Grand Pre-.
" s[geepina the Germans back OUT
Is the L.aon salient. They are no"
we'll 20 the east of the Laen-La FerS
-aiIroad and have kept up a steady
,ressure against the enemy along |
he Oise valley 10 the norEheaSs OF |
The allied blow In Belgium appears
10 be one which may have diFscT
,earina on the course OF the mi9nTy
,a+tIe that is raging over the battle |
inc from pixn1ude to Verdun.
The proaress made against the |
Germans on the first day Of the of
auaive seems to indicate that it Is |
,ossibIe for the allies TO press east
yard and outfIant both the German
bases 20 the north and
he vshols German line to the south.
A glance at the map shows that
he railroads by which the submarine
,ases are supplied are in great dan"
ler as the allied advance carries Ene
inc nearer and nearer 20 Ghent. lt
5 rumored along the British front
\ Flanders that British monitors
ave entered Ostend but this report
! without confirmation. Should u
rove true, however, it is possible
hat forces may be landed in the
ear Of the Germans still holding
he lines between Thourout and the
ca. -,
South OF the new break in the Ger
1an lines the Germans have been in
serious position for some tiFles
lille has been in danger from the
outh and this new attack threatens
o outfIank the city from the north.
houId this occur, Lille will probably i
ali and with its fall Douai is certain
0 be involved.
There appears TO bo every reason
hat the Germans along the flanks
r the line from SoIesnnes TO che VIC
1fty of ReEnel will succeed in delay
ia the allied advances long enough
. permit the forces in the bia Laon
aIient TO escape in safety. All re-
orts OF the fighting in this area
owever, agree that the German
,sses In material and munitions are
The suceeas Of che Americans
asst of the Argonne forest seems 90
ring che Germans there face 70 face
-ith the necessity OF either greatly
.rensfheninq the forces holding the
ne or retiring 20 the northward.
his sector is SO important TO the
Iture development Of German de-
.nsive measures that il may be ex-
scted that the enemy will strive by
II means 60 hold back the Ameri- Il
ans.
0as.n CAs2 I,