The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-24
1Rv Associated presa.N


Washington, Aug. 24.-Members
of the. senate military committee
were assured by General March at
their weekly conference today that
stories of great unpublished Amert-
can casualties overseas are wholly
false and that all casualties among
the expeditionary forces are given
to the public as, promptly as the ca
bIes can transmit them.
The chief of staff said the situa-
ton on the western front now was
decidedly avorable TO the allies.
Gen. March said the program Of
transporting troops to France was
going ahead without change. The
total number of soldiers embarked
has now passed the 1900, 900 mark.
Commenting upon the military
situation the chief Of staff pointed
out that since last Wednesday the
French advance has continued from
the plateau overlooking Noyon down
to the Disc. river, making a maxi
mum advance of these troops Of nine
miles since August 49,. This has
forced the enemy back across the
Disc. ..,.. -..
British Duplicate Success.
The French success, he said, had
been duplicated by the British who
fnaugurated an attack Wednesday
south of Arras. Rapidly advancing,
the British reached a depth Of three
miles but their progress has been
held up by German counter attacks.
The railroad to Arras still is in Ger
man hands, according to latest Off
cial advices and the Germans are
utilizing it largely in their defense
Of the railway enlbanknlent8.
The British thrust Thursday in
the Albert region resulted in an i'm
portant advance between the Ancre
and the Somne rivers which Gem
eral March said, mas developed a new.
salient The rest of the line since
Wednesday has been reasonably
quiet, he said. the allied activities
being confined to "nibbling" tactics
and artillery fire.
Gen. March spoke, warmly of the
achievements of the Americans. IA
France, s..z,s3.s q .s.. .5--.s.ss
aThe Anlorican s,ldi6rs deserve
confidence Of their people, he said, /
they have delivered the goods.
Every man VINO has ssrved with
American troops has, absolute con-
fidence in them according to Amer
lean Officers returning from France
to take higher rank. One Of these
described an action in which an Am
erican division captured SO German
guns and brought them back at the
rear Of the army trucks.
This division at the same time
captured $500 prisoners.
Took Ten Batteries.
'Another American division in a.
single action took ten complete Ger
man batteries and preseted them to
General Pershing." |
General March said statements he |
made recently in hearings before the |
military affairs committee were the |
results of cold blooded military opin- |
ion and were not intended to raise |
the hopes of the people. He ap-
parently referred to the theory that |
four millions could win the war next |
year. General March said the S3rd |
division penn. and Ohio troops) is |
serving was a replacement division; |
the 37th division (Ohio troops) is in |
the 4th army corps. The 10th divi-
sion CDist. of Columbia, Maryland |
and Penn. troops) have reached |
France and is in training in the rear
of the line
No recent reports have come to
the department from General Per-
shing regarding progress in the or
ganization of the first field army. /
Gen. March was unable to say
whether the American divisions /
forming this army have been con-
'cerned in a new American sector.