The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-23
ENTIRE GERMAN IN NORTHERN PCARDY THREATENEl
BY VIGOROUS ASSAULTS or THE BRITISH NEAR ALBER
E2ENCH DRIVING HOME ZZZELR WEDGE ALONG OLSE RIVER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR
Cgy Associated Press.l

British and German armies are
locked in a mighty battle today over
a 25.nriIe front from Lihons, six
miles south of the Somne river, to
the. cojeuI river, southwest of Ar
ras.
This combat, which began with the
British attack against the enemy po-
sition east of Ancre river on
Wednesday, now has spread into one
Of the greatest battles Of the Allied
offensive in Picardy. II 10 officially
reported from London that the Rrit-
ish are making progress at some
points and that German attacks east
of Beauoourt, at about the middle
of the battle front were repuIsed. The
British apparently still are on the
aggressive along the whole line.
French troops have occupied the
southern banks of the Disc and the
Ailette between Sempieny, south of
Noyon, TO the railroad bridge west
of Coucy Ie- Chateau.
South Of Coucy-Ie- Chateau they
have reached the outskirts of Guny
and Pont ST. Mard. This progress
brings them still further toward the
rear Of the German forces holding
the hills north Of scissors and with
tions north of of Chemin des Danes,
as they stood before the offensive Of
May 27.
LINE Is WAVERiNG.
Shaken bv the Allied assaults an
the northern and southern ends of
the Pieardy battle front the German
line 10 waVerine. Along the Disc the |
enemy apparently is retreatins pre-
cipitateIy.
Allied pressure continues strong
along the whole front. Unless the |
enemy can stop the onrush, partiou-
larly in the south his territorial gains |
Of the year are in a fair way to be |
wiped out. Further, If either of the |
Allied strokes can break through, the |
old Hindenburs line itself would be
impeFiIed.
In the south the French are push |
ing forward on a front of 80 miles
east and west of Noyon, weakening
the German line around Roye and |
northward, and proving a grave men,
ace to the Vesle- -Aisne line through |
the crossing Of AiIette and oise.
BRITISH HAMMER AWAY.
North Of the somn1e and -Ancre TO
Mereatei, the British keep doggedIy |
at it after capturing Albert and 5000
prisoners. South Of, the bend in the
AneFe river, they have crossed THAI
stream on a six mile front for gain
of two miles.
Noyon, a pivot Of the German lines
k,,A
town and the surrounding heights |
are under the fire Of the French can
mop. West of Noyon the French are
on the DiVette, a distance of almost
five miles. The Disc has been
reached on a front of 10 miles south
and east of Noyon and has been
crossed at several points.
So hurried was the German with. |
drawaI from south of the Oise that
they were unable 70 DESTROY ali the |
bridges across the stream. They also |
left behind much material and more |
than 200 guns.
French cavalry and airpIanes are
harassina the retiring of the enemy |
and over the German positions Of
two days, even one day ago, French |
guns and infantry are rushing north |
ward. Except west of the Disc and |
along che sharp salient north of
Seissons the Germans show little |
signs of holding and probably will
retire to beyond the Disc canal, which |
parallels the river on the north.
The combats on the front north of
the Somme have been most stubborn |
and Field Marshal Haig has had TO
face bitter resistance all along the |
front. His pressure continues, how |
ever, and his success around Albert
probably will provide leverage TO |
push the Germans farther east, north |
the Anere the British and Germans !
are struggling violently for posses
sion of towns along Arras Albert J
and Arras- Baupame road, |
but the British have held to their
gains.
MOST VITAL SECTORS.
Probably the most vital sectors. to
the Germans at present are those |
from Rove TO Moyon and that north |
west of Soissons. If the first ohould !
Waver and fall back, the German Po-
sition north of the Somnc would
have to be readjusted. The salient /
northwest of Soissons possibly is the |
most important because If il should |
faII the rspeh e,. would G. have have IL. the
BlEt9UE& OF SVEUllU 0EB kSaulCS ONL~
flanked and be in position TO men
ace Laon. Continued French pres
sure on this salient would appear
to have the effect Of forcing the Ger
mans 60 retreat from the Vesle with
in a few days at most.
American troops north of the Vesle
have Increased the security of their
by cleaning out an import
ant point north OF Fismes, The Ger
mans attempted a counter attack,
but were thrown back with a loss.
Along the remainder of the VesIe the
Allied pressure is being maintained.
In the Lys salient in Flanders the
British have made further progress.
East of MervilIe they are approach
ing Neuf Berquin. North of sailleul,
where the line turns northeastward,
the British have pushed forward on
a front sof one and one half miles.
German newspapers are admitting |
that American troops 90 the number
OF I 100000 may have reached France
but declare that the great bulk Of %ha
force ig not intended for &hs fighting
line. Berlin officially says that Brit
ish attacks north of the SoRme on
Thursday failed. Concerning the
in The south, IL says the /
French have attacked "our new pol
sition" between the Avre and The
Aisnes The retirement south Of Noy- |
on Wednesday night is declared toi
have been aunnoticed" By the French. !