The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-18
FRENCH and AMERICANS
STRIKE ON 25'IVlILE FRONT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
p. SUMMARY OF The war
Bx Associated Press.l

General Foeh, the allied COM
mander-in- chief, has taken the as-
gressive on an important scale, at
taoking this morning on q 25emiIe
front between the, Aisne and the
Marne-the westerly side Of the
Germans Marine salient.
! The attack appears 20 be q sig
Hifican& counter stroke to the Ger
man drive along the Marne- -Rheimss
Champagne front. From VarlouS
sources come reports that the bat
tie lis progressing faVorably to the
allied forces, which presumably in
: clude American troops.
The front Of the attack runs from
Fontanoy, six miles west of Sois.
sons, Co the town Of Belieau, on the
CIienon river. Few details of tho
battle are yet available, the main
fact officially stated, being that at
various points along this front prog
ress of from a mile and a half to
two miles has been made and that
prisoners have been taken.
GREAT POSSIBILITIES.
The situation on this front pre-
cents Interesting possibilities. The
battle line when the German offens-
i've paused at the MaFne early in
June, closely FesembIed the letter v,
with the acufe angle blunted. Since
their attack on Monday morning, the
Germans have made progress, which
has changed The form Of the line to
that of the letter Y, the rig ht leg of
which is shorter than the left.
From Fontenoy, at the tip of the
left leg to Rheims, on the end of the
right, is about 81 miles. The dis
tanee from the Aisne to the present
battle front south of the Marne is
about Is miles.
It is along the left leg Of the U
that the allied onslaught began this
morning. Behind the allied lines is
the forest of .VilIers- -Cotterets, with
q network of strategic wagon roads
and three railway lines. In front of
them there is an important railroad
line running southwark from Sois-
sons to Chateau Thierry, presum-
ably used as a supply artery for a
large proportion of the enemy troops
along the Marne river. This railway
was about four miles from the all
lied front when the attack was
started today. ..
it appears TO be, it is a serious
SbtH SeA& ~ SItS NREVtS SCItiAG@I FoSI6tbN
south of the Aisne. Rapid progress
by the allies TO the eastward would
compel the abandonment of the
German offensive, which is now ap.
ParentIy directed toward Epernay TO
the south of Rheims mountain. Il
might, Il successful, even bring
about a German retirement from the
whole Soissons- Marne- Rheims SAL
lent with potential disastrous re-
suits TO the enemy in the loss of
men, guns and material.
MANY LOCAL ATTACKS.
During the last three weeks, the
French have carried out a number of
local operations southwest of Sois-
sons, along the line where the pres
ent allied effort is being made. BY
these operations the French line
from the region of AmbIeny,. south
Of Fcntenoy, TO Longpont, nearly
eight miles further south, was ad-
vaneed and Strengthened. Before to-.
day's attack began, the French held
positions along a series of ridges on
a five mile line from Ambleny TO St.
Pierre Aigle and were in strong en-
Erenchnents further south.
Strenuous efforts are being made by
the Germans 60 enlarge their gains