The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-28
The War to1. the Week

than was even nopeu
Fridays news the glorious climax OF an
other week of uninterrupted successes for the
Allies and there is now every prospect of a
speedy elimination of both Bulgaria and Turkey
from the war, the resultant reconstruction of the
Russian front and the retirement Of the German
army in france ii the border this year. If they
can accomplish it.
The Turkish and Macedonia campaigns are
so closely related and may have such far reach
ing results that they will be considered first,
MS they have even greater significance than the
fighting on the western front this week
Army The Real obiective
These two campaigns illustrate in striking
way, the theory that the enemys army should be
the real objective, and that captures of towns,
cities and defense lines are but incidental to It.
In both Macedonia and Palestine the enenys
army has been split wide open, and the scattered
groups surrounded annihilated or captured
The Macedonia campaign was conducted in a
most workman1ike manner. The Allies opened
a wide breach in the center of the line and drove
straight north for a distance of more than fifty
milesA AS their FORCES pressed toward the rail-
road center of Uskub in the north, the Allied
army spread out like fan. With the British
pressing across the southern border of Bulgaria,
in the face of tremendously Strong natural forth
ficatons and through a high mountain range, the
Serbs drove up the valley of the Vardar and then
cut across northeast to the western border Of
Bulgaria Their cavalry was reported twenty
miles beyond Ishtib on Friday and today should
see them across the Bulgarian border to the
north Of the strong fortress Of Strumitza.
strumitza Is Taken.
Meanwhile the British and Greeks have con-
tinued to advance from the south and yesterday
the fall of strumitza was reported Whether It
was taken from the south or the west is unim-
portant, for a junction of the two forces may be
expected at any moment That means that the
entire southern border of Bulgaria. which was
strongly fortified, has been carried and there is
nothing between the Allies and Sofia, the capt.
tal but badly disorganized fragment Of the
Bulgarian army The fate of the western half
Of the army is uncertain, but it does not seem
possible that it can escape humiliation or sur
render. 1t has withdrawn westward toward the
trackless country of Albania where 1t is hard
pressed by the Italians, and cut off on the north
and east by the Serbs and French. The REM
nants of it may get some doubtful support from
theAustrian forces in Albania.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Sofia
promptly sought an armistice. The tenor OF the
reply plainly indicates that only the military
situation will be considered in an armistice, and
it is doubtful if the Bulgars will get any better
fate than an Unconditional surrender 1t would
be the greatest Of blunders from a military
standpoint to grant anything else, for complete
victory seems within the grasp of the Allies, and
they probably could be in Sofia scarcely so miles
away, in a week. At Sofia, they would CUT the Y
railroad connection between Berlin and Con-
stantinople, and the Turks would be completely
segregated from their allies.
Results of Victory
The complete restoration of Serbia will be one
The Serbs are attending to that part of 1t al
ready In very workmanlike manner. The
restoration Of Serbia will involve a. retreat from
Albania and perhaps Montenegro By the Austri-
an forces, whose left wing will be left without
support,
The capture of Sofia, moreover, would mean
the establishment of direct connections with
Rumania. Rumania is seething with revolt and
just waiting the word to rise and throw out the
German invader. This word will be given the in
slant the Allies are able to establish their lines
across the peninsula and assure the Rurnanans
The Allies will then be able to turn on the
Turks to the south and Austria to the north and
begin direct drive toward Constantinople.
- Turkey Next.
With all connections cut off it does not seem
possible that Turkey escape complete dis
aster. Her armies are demoralized by the de-
Allenby have virtually wiped out the Turkish
forces in Palestine, and Damascus should soon
fall to the British and Arabs. The Importance
Of the fall Of Damascus was discussed in an edi-
torial on this page last evening. 1t is the door
way to the East and its fail would involve the
capture of Aleppo and the cutting off Of the
Turkish armies in Mesopotamia. The only other
force of any Importance left to Turkey is the
army operating near the Caspian sea. Turkey
had but few divisions on the Macedonia front.
and they would offer little defense to Adrian
ople and Constantinople.
The victories of the week hold out every prom
Use Of the rapid overrunning Of the Balkans and
Turkey by the Allies and it seems probable
that their complete elimination from the war is
a matter of but a. few weeks and perhaps days.
Would Open Dardenelies.
The Importance of such a move is out Of all
proportion to the actual military aid given by
Turkey and Bulgaria. The fall ComstantinonlR
Allied fleet That gives direct route for sup
plies to Russia and Rumania in addition to the
route across the Balkans. 1t would permit the
sending of prompt and effective aid to Rumania
the Czecho- Sovaks and the Russian loyalists
and would rerestablish the Russian front many
hundreds OF miles to the west of where it
now is
1t would complete the .iron ring around Ger
many and Austria and place them with their
backs to the wall fighting alone for their very
existence.
Scarcely less important than these military
results should be the political results among
the oppressed races in Austria. The Jugo-Slavs
are waiting only for some assurance Of success
to begin their revolution, and the fall of all but
Gerfnanized Austria should be almost an inn
mediate result Of the elimination of Bulgaria
and Turkey.
This view of the Importance OF the weeks
victories may seem almost fantastic in its
optimism, but the next two or three n weeks
sould prove or disprove its accuracy.
"a Plight of German Army.
Meanwhile General Foch continues his thrusta
at the German army in France and there is no
longer any doubt but that the Germans are only
too willing to get out Of all invaded territory
The trouble is they can't do it without inviting
disaster.
Iudendorffs hard pressed generals must cast
longing eyes rearward these days as thew think
of the reserve forces that you'd be available