The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-14
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR

RspuIssd in their efforts TO reach
Compleane and drive the FFeneh
back to the Montdidier region, the
Gswnans are Increasing $he weight
Of their attack northeast Of ViI!ers-
CoEterets, with the apparent hope OF
forcing q passage between &he VII"
lers -Cottorets forest and the Com
piegne forest, and thus overcoming
the French resistance east of the
Oise.
The German offensive west of the
Disc is now in lie sixth day and the
enemy has made slower progress In
the present movement than in any
Of che other three he has carried
out since March Fl. French resist
anee has been growing stronger as
the days have passed and Thursday
the Germans despite heavy attacks
against tho high positions around
Merry, were unable to gain and suf-
fered severe losses from the French
fire. Along the oise he has been
thrown back across the Matz and his
efforts to regain the south Of the
river have been unavaiIinq.
South of the Ai8ue on a front Of
three miles the Germans have pushed
back the French about one mile in
two days. Bitter fighting continues
in this region and the French re-
distance at LeVarsine, Corey and
CoeuVres was powerful en9uah to
prevent the enemy from advancing
further westward. The Germans have
foothol Id in LeVarsjne. but have
been unable to complete the oceupa-
ton Of the village.
While attempting to outflank the
formidable natural barrier of the
Compiegne forest the Germans have
shown no desire to try a frontal at
tack against the new French line
north of the Laiaue front. There
has been no fighting here and the
south of the Aisne, although closely
related. have not been connected.
German official statements OF
Thursday make no claim of any
gains west Of the Disc and the even
ing report says the situation 10 un"
changed, with fighting continuing
southwest of Noyon, south Of the
Aisne and south of Ypres. There are
no allied reports Of fighting south
of Yprss and this may herald new
movement in the north. Between the
southern edge Of the Villers- -Cotter"
cts forest and Chateau Thierry Am
eFiean troops repulsed vioFent at
tempts to drive them from their po..
sitions from Beieau wood and
Bouresches. The enemy attacked af-
ter q heavy bombardments but was
driven back with severe losses. The
Americans took prisoners and ma
chine guns.
Allied aIrmen continue to harass
the area behind the German lines in
the Montdidier- Noyon region. Many
thousands Of bombs have been drop"
ped on enemy targets, and more
than a score Of enemy machines were
brought down Wednesday by French
and British aviators. American air
men have Joined in air work by
dropping bombs on Dommary Baran-
court. On the Tout sector in aerial
fiahts, American fichbina4Pianes have
DESTROYED two enemy machines and
driven another down out OF control
with the loss of one machine, which
landed within the German lines. Brit
ish bon1bers also have made incur
sions into Germany.
Bad weather is hampsring infantry
operations on the Italian front, but
in the mountain region the artillery
4iuhtina is intense. Frene troops in
operation in eastern Albania have
driven the BuIsariane from II viii
Iaues and have occupied territory on
a front of II miles TO q, depth Of nine
miles. Important mountain heights
covering the lower reaches OF the
S<urnbs and Devoii rivers have been
seized and more than 300 prisoners
captured.