The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-07
The Var fo,. The Week

been completed, ana Ln6 LeGIIOTy Is sHloppSN
up" and fully occupied by the Allies, virtually ell
OF the gains made by the enemy since March II
viii have been wiped out and the Allies will have
new territory won since then thar will more
than offset In extent and Importance what re-
mains to bs reconduered.
In other words, the Germans, within the course
Of the next day or tive, will be back to the Hin
denburg line along nearly all OF it's length, and
beyond it in places. What the Germans won IN
four months, the Allies have won back IN two
and they have taken positions which threaten the
safety Of the great German defense line most
seriously.
The Accompanying map shows but small part
OF the Allied gains for the week TO the north
they have taken Lens and farther north have
wiped out the Lys salient, and are now hammer
ing at Armentieres and threatening Lille
TO the south they have cleared most of the
ground between the Aisne and the Vesle, aad are
steadily driving the Germans back to the Chenn
Des Danes, north Of the Aishe river
The district shown on the accompanying map
between the present line and the HndenDurs
line, is OF little tactical Importance ana undorbt
edly will be relinduiehed by the Germans as
rapidly as they can withdraw in safety It is
level ground, fought over many times, and has no
military value whatever It offers no opportunity
for making stand so it's recapture may be safe.
ly discounted. 7
The Important Advances.
The important advances made during the week
have been in two sectors: First that advance
which brought the Allies to the gates Of La Fere
and established the line through conchy to the
Aisne river; and secondly, the British advance
astride the Arras-Cambrai and Bapaume- Cam
brai roads ,...
They will be considered separately for all the
other gains OF territory made during the week
have been due to them. s@" ~
Amy large map of the whole battle line will
show that the Hindenburg line sweeps in gen
erai southerly direction from the North sea, to a
point few miles northeast Of Scissors, and then
turns abruptly to the east. This point was the
Keystone Of the whole German defense line In
France. s-..ta. ~
Z. In the center of this apex in the line, is the
city Of Laon the base OF operations, and the line
sweeps around the forest of St. Gobain and the
mass Of rugged hills known as the St. Gobain
Maasif It ig strong natural position, and has
been thoroughly organized for defense, inasmueh
as the German lines both to the north and to the
east are dependent upon it. --ar
Drive Toward Pivot.
The French and Americans during the week,
drove forward toward this pivotal point, and last
night their line was established on the Hinden-
burg line, all the way from La Fere south to
and 30 miles. This operation had two very i'm
portant results First, II. outflanked the German
troops along the vesle river, and forced them to
retire. They held strong defensive positions, and
thousands of American lives would have been
sacrificed In an effort to take them by frontal
attack. But General Foch outmaneuvered the
enemy here, and forced retirement which cost
the Germans far more in nen and supplies than
It did the hard pressing Americans.
The second result was direct menace to the
Chernin Des Dames.s the high ridge and road
which form the basis OF the Hindenburg line as it
sweeps toward the east. At Coucy, the French
are threatening to outflank the ridge by driving
In north of 1t, They must attack through the
forest OF st. Gobaip, difficult operation, but
probably less costly than frontal attack on the
Chenain Des Danes ridge. II successful, 1t will
also be much more important victory, for it
will achieve all the objects of a frontal attack,
and in addition flank the Hindenburg line to the
north. This factor, taken together with the at
tack in the north to be discussed later, iup6rli
the whole German defense line in France
The Northern Sector,
The second important battle zone during the
week, as was forecast a week ago was the ter
ritory in front OF Douai and canbraf. The Britt
ish increased their gains in this sector and wild.
ened the breach In the go-called Wotan line, 9TH
erwige known as the Drocourt- oueant switch
HIS. Iris WIS Lne last Important u6Tenee line In
front OF Douai and Cambria and both these cities
are now within sight Of the British and prob
ably within their reach. Their fall lie probable,
although they viii bs most bitterly defended by
the Germans because OF their Importance. The
British rested Thursday from their long con-
tinued attack here.
This penetration and the penetration at Couey,
strike at the very vitala OF the whole German
position in France Lille, Douai, Cambria, st.
Quentin and Laon are the five great bases Of the
German armies now in France, and all of them
are threatened now, All of them are within sight
Of the Allies and within range OF the Allied artil-
lery. but all Of them probably viii be spared from
bombardment If possible Eneircling movements
probably win be the method used to capture them
Barring the possibility OF q drive by the Aneri-
cans In an entirely new sector the important
fighting Of the coming week should be in these
two sectors. The British may be expected to
strike again at Cambria and Douai, and the
French are likely to continue their, operations
against the ST. Gobain forest and Laon. II these
operations meet with success commensurate with
the successes to date, the Germans viii find no
resting place in their present lines, but win be
forced to begin a retreat along the whole line
from Rheims to the channel, and II is well with
In the range Of possibilities that such a retreat
once begun, will take them to the border this
yearsJ ~ q.
II ~ fezss