The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-17
OUTGUESSED, OUTMANEUVERED
AND OUTFOUGHT.

AND OUTFOUGHT.
Even after every allowance is made for
possible exaggeration on the part OF
American correspondents, and the fact
that their sympathies might lead them
into seeing the pleasant facts and over
looking the unpleasant ones, there can be
little question but that the French and
Americans outguessed, outmaneuvered and
outfought the Germans in the great drive
begun Monday morning.
The "outguessing" was a triumph for
the Allied high command. The sector be-
tween Chateau Thierry and Rheims prob
ably was the one on which the German
drive was least to be expected. Progress
there would bring the Germans no closer
to Paris The great drive was to be expect
ed between Chateau Thierry and scissors,
or further north on the old battlefields in
Picardy or Flanders. The Germans I'M
doubtcdIy planned to surprise the Allies
with a sudden blow near Rheims, where
the line was believed to be less strongly
held than at any place between Chateau
Thierry and the sea. They expected to
make greater gains at a smaller expendi-
ture of men than they could at any other
place.
But they were outguessed.
General Foch very evidently knew of
the plans and was prepared. The results
of the first days fighting clearly show
this. The German gains were infinitesimal
compared with previous offensives, and
they must have been made at terrific cost.
1t was far different story from the at
tack on the Aisne, when the Allies appar-
emily were taken by surprise. Big battles
like these are largely matters of reserves
and General FOch had his ready.
The Germans were outmaneuvered.
The only German gains made during the
last year on the western front have been
made when the Germans outnumbered the
Allies two to one or more. In this battle
the numbers were more nearly equal, and
the results show it.
The Germans were outfought.
No American can escape a thrill of
pride in the accomplishments Of General
Lggett's corps. The first full American
army corps had it's test of fire and did all
that was expected of it and more. It was
less than two weeks ago that the war de-
partment announced the formation of this
army corps, which is the largest fighting
unit, consisting of about 22O, 900 men. The
first complete American army met it's first
great test and won-won gloriously.
It is not detracting from the accom-
plishments of the Frcnch-and it must be
remembered that the French held far more
Of the line than we did-to say that the
Americans acquitted themselves fully as
well as the veteran poilus. We don't want
to surpass the French-just equal their ex-
pIoits-and in this spirit attention might be
called to fact that the deepest penetration
was not made through the American part
of the line. Our men fought shoulder to
shoulder with the French and carried their
full share Of the burden. That's enough
glory for them. If they are entitled to any
more, the French will give it to them
The wide front on which the attack was
made, and the tremendous forces engaged
estimated at from 100000 to 1,OOO,OOO-
are the best evidence possible that this was
the main German attack and not feint
Even Germany is not making feints with a
million men,
The battle is not yet over. 1t may con-
time for several days yet, but it has been
the most disastrous for the Germans of all
the great offensives. They have made
much the smallest gains, and their losses
probably have been as heavy as in any of
the previous attacks, for the costly attack
is the one which fails to gain.