The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-08-10

good judgment and overestinate the results
One week ago today the attention ef the world
was centerbd on the Marne salient, which no
longer, exists Last Saturday the great Marns
battle still was In full swing. Monday morning
the Allies occupied F4srdeB and had cleared yr-
tually all Of the Germans from the south Of the
Yesle river. Tuesday and Wednesday detach-
nients OF French and Americans crossed the
vesfe, but since then few reports Of fighting iii
that territory have been received. There have
been intense artillery duels but infantry actions
had ceased by Friday There Ii every indication
that the Germans will continue their retirement
in this sector to the north bank of the Aisne, and
probably take up their old positions on the
Chefnin Des DANES, but evidently they are in too
great force, thanks to the tremendous number Of
reserves thrown in, to be hurried except at ex- <
cessive cost, and after wiping out the Marne
salient, General Foch appears to have been con-
tent to merely continue the pressure ana permit
the Germans to retire. = ..s:a 49,
<-.. Had Other Plans.
Events showed that General Foch had other
plans which were much preferable to continuing
the Marine battle which promised to be exees-
sively costly .F r... B. .-.--. r ~.
On Thursday morning the Allied countries
we're electrified by the report of sudden attack
by the British and French troops on 36-riile
front directly east OF AIniens.
This attack had tremendous Significance from
two standpoints: strategic and tactical From
strategic standpoint, it proves that General
Foch has decided definitely to retain the Of
fensive which he assumed In the battle OF the
Mafne. From tactical standpoint, 1t s Of vast
Importance because it threatens to wipe out the
great Aniiens salient created BY the Germans
when they drove forward last March, free the
Paris-Ar1iehs road from further danger and
eliminate any threat Of separating the French
ana British armies BY driving through to the
channel. p.
TO study properly the events Of the week or
any war news. constant reference to map is
necessary. Now that the Marine salient has been
wiped out the line Of battle extends in almost a
direct line running slightly north of due west
from Rheims for a distance OF about rs miles
to Montdidier. Just west Of Montddier, it
curved in q big arc swinging east Of A1niens and
then ran in nearly a direct line northeast to
Arras. -sa,. g. %e.
About half way between Rheims ana Mehtdi-
dier is Soissons. The attack launched Thursday
began just around the Montdider angle extend
ing roughly, as far north as Albert. II was the
front closest to the important Allied center Of
Amiens which was within range OF the German
guns
Was Partial Surprise.
In one sense the attack was complete sur
prise and in another sense it was not. The Ger
mans evidently had been expecting some activity
in this sector, for they had withdrawn from adj
VanceQ poSlClonS on the western bankS OF the
Avre and Ancre rivers. These positions had been
occupied several weeks ago and were to be used
as the basis OF further attacks. They were use
full only for the base from which to launch an
offensive and were dangerous ia the extreme
for an army on the defensive. The fact that the
Germans withdrew to the east banks Of these
rivers indicated, that they had abandoned the Of
fensive in this region and probably that they
expected an attack. 81 ~
Yet when ThurHdayss attach ytaA launched it
took the enemy completely by surprise, for hun
dreds Of men were found at work in the harvest
fields behind the line. There was but a brief ar
tillery preparation, and then hundreds of tanks
went forward, opening the way for arrnored
motor cars, infantry and even cavalry. Prog
ress appears to have been amazingly rapid, ndi-
eating little resistance and up to Friday night it
was reported that the Allies had penetrated to a
maximum distance Of between II and IL miles
and had captured more than $4,000 prisoners,
vast stores Of ammunition ana supplies end so
many guns that the German artillery was all
most stlenoed in some sectors. =.
49,. Attack Most SktlIfuI. ~ .s-s
The attack appears to have been executed with
masterly skill The Allied losses are reported
to have been far less than the number. Of prison
ers taken, and the disorderly retreat would indt-
cate very heavy casualties among the fleeing
Germans. 1t is open warfare with a vengeance
now. Allied cavalry is operating far in advance
prisoners The German lines appear to be com
pletely demoralized, and the airmen are finding
the open roads across the level country easy
marks for bombs. This plays havoc with the ef-
forts to save supplies and" artillery and the de-
feat has all the signs Of being staggering blow
to the German armies ~>
RaPier,@Not BIudseons
How far the attack viii be pushed remains to
be seen. General Foch by; breaking off the
Ndarne battle, showed that he fights with a rapier
not with a bludgeon. He prefers sudden bril-
liant attack to the German steam roller methods,
but does not hesitate to push home blow that
looks promising.
This blow certainly looks promising. The AL
lies appear to have penetrated almost as far as
Chaulnes. A farther advance of equal distance
would split the great German salient in two,
leaving two sharp salients resembling the letter
'W". Both OF these would be exposed to Allied
artillery fire from both sides, and the troops
around Montdidier in particular would be in
most critical position Two more days of fight
ing as successful as Thursdays and Fridays
probably would force the Germans to renquish
all the gains made in their spring offensives and
retire to the old Lille -Douai Carnbrai-st. Quen
tin line and attempt TO dig in there for the win
ter. That would leave them where they started
last March, minus more than million German
soldiers and vast stores OF supplies
That such a movement even now is in con-
temptation is shown by the voluntary retirement
mans made some small gains there in their cost
liz offensive against the British in May and ap-
parently they are ready to relinquish these also
and retire to- their old line.
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