The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-01
The War for the Week

This week has seen the long expected renewal
of the German offensive, and it has been trying
and an anxious week for the Allies.
All the comments heard during the beginning
Of the offensive in March, that the Germans
were paying dearly for every square foot and
that mere territory does not spell victory. are
just as true as they were then, but the distance
to the channel ports to Amiens and to Paris Is
pitifulIy small and there is no blinking the situ-
alton that the Allies face in France.
While it is true that the Germans cannot
stand many such offensives, it is equally true
that the Allies cannot afford to have many such
bites taken out of their territory in northern
France.
The Chief Danger.
The chief danger to the Allies seems to lie in
the cramped positions between the new line and
the coast They haven't any surplus territory
in which to maneuver vast armies, and there is
grave danger Of sudden blow causing a very
serious disaster Undoubtedly the allied com
manders realize this danger as well as any Office
chair strategist but every mile the Germans
gain now is precious one, and it does no good
to make light of the gains. mile now is as
serious as two miles were two months ago.
There seems little question but that the spot
chosen for the German attack this week was a
surprise. 1t was made against of the strong
est positions the allied line, and therefore
one Of the most thinly held. 1t was generally
believed that the Germans, when they struck
again, would drive against Arras, which lies
between the two old battleields of the Sonrne
and Flanders. Their drive straight west toward
Amiens had been checked. Their attack toward
the channel ports was a costly and disastrous
failure. But for the third phase of their Of
fensive, they seemed to have changed their plans
again, and they drove straight southwest to-
ward Paris. They struck on Monday on a front
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directly at the Chenin DIES Danes, the road
along the high ridge north of the Aisne, which
was taken last year by the French and held so
long against the most bloody counter attacks
They covered their main attack by a minor
attack in Flanders. but it was broken against
the British and French lines there. and re-
pulsed with heavy loss. .#..@
The Main Attack.
The main attack met with considerable sue
cess. The Germans threw some fifty divisions
into the attack, all told and with their tre-
mendous superiority Of numbers were able to
push through, capture the Chemin des Danes,
cross the Aisne and drive south toward the
Marine. Both sides of this salient held firmly
and the German attack is being gradually pinch
ed out as it progresses. Rheims still holds,
but is likely to become untenabIe and probably
will be abandoned scissors was taken, but the
French are still resisting bitterly in the western
outskirts of the city.
Yesterday afternoon the dispatches showed
that this drive toward the Marine was being
checked. and was virtually at standstir but the
Germans shifted their attack to the west and
tried to drive through Compiegne which
would connect the new salient with the old
Somme battlefelds. What success this new move
will meet is not yet determined.
Seeking a Decision.
The new attack shows that the Germans are
if
the summer ends. They are attacking with the
utmost ruthlessness and ferocity. sparing neither
men nor supplies. They are driving at any OBJ
jective that would appear to present the posi-
bility Of a decisive victory. The loss Of Paris
Amiens or the channel ports would be a serious
blow to the Allies. but not decisive Yet the
Germans are prepared to pay terrific price for
any Of these, and paying it. If they can pay
enough remains to be seen .t..ae-
American troops hit their hardest blow of the
to date right on the nose of the German
salient this week. They struck just west of
Montdidier, where the German lines project
farthest into France. took the village of Can
tigny and captured more than 200 prisoners
The attack and victory either stung the Germans
to a frenzy or they placed particular Importance
on this position, for they have launched almost
continuous counter attacks against the American
lines. At least ten such attacks have been
broken up by the Americans. and not an inch
has been regained.
The Endorsement Of the aims of the Jugo-
slav and echo-Slovak aims by the American
government was OF the really important
events of the week. Whether it was direct
result of this or not, reports We're received YES
terday Of serious disturbances in Austria, and
dispatches from Switzerland said that all for
eigners were denied permission to enter the
country. .s....s ......
Sweden has released some tonnage to the
Allies in return for food supplies, and two Of
the new German super-subnarnes were re-
ported sunk near Gibraltar during the week,