The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-31
Rainbow Division Is En-
gagged In Fighting Near
Fere-en-Tardenois
SIX NEW DIVISIONS
WILL BE ORGANIZED
General Pershing Ordered
To Gable Casualties AS
Soon AS Received
tBx Associated Press.1

Washington, July 31.-The battle
in the Aisne- Marine salient has de-
veloped into a life and death strug-
gle between the opposing armies
More limited objectives the Germans
may have had in launching their at
tack at Rheims or for which Gen
eral Foch may have aimed In nus
counter thrust, have been sub
merged in a greater struggle, the OBJ
1ect of which on each side is the de-
struction Of the opposing army. This
Interpretation Of the battle was for
nally presented today by General
March, chief Of staff, in his mid
week conference with newspaper
correspondents. Whatever was the
original German purpose or the
hopes that governed the allied coun-
ter blow, he said it is now perfectly
evident that these have been set
aside. The object of each army now
is the other army; each is seeking to
kill as many as possible.
In making this announcement,
General March frankly admitted that
the German resistance in holding
apart the jaws Of the salient had
frustrated any hope of bagging any
considerable portion of the German
armies in the salient. In two weeks
time, he pointed out, the enemy has
had ample time to withdraw his ad-
vanced divisions and to perfect his
defensive positions along the fiat
tened front now established.
General Marchs statement was
accepted as explaining reports that
the Germans have concentrated
nearly a million men on this narrow
1iun1nCinep @hA for
the terrific fighting in which Ameri-
can forces have been engaged in
the center of the battle front, where
losses have not served to divert
either side from the struggle for
critical positions.
Americans Hold Apex.
The Americans hold the apex Of the
allied drive, the vital point on which
the outcome Of the struggle may
hinge, and the fury Of the German
counter attacks is accounted for by
this fact.
Rainbow Division in Line.
Arrival of the 42nd (Rainbow) di-
vision and it's participation in the
fighting east of Fere- en- -Tardenois,
was announced. The third regular
division also was identified as in ac-
ton at Sergy and ClergeS,. where the
crack German guard divisions have
been defeated in, recent fighting by
American troops.
Geenral March announced the
formation in the United States Of six
more divisions, numbered from IS to
20 and to be located at Camps
Logan, Tex: Kearney, Cal; Beaure-
gard, La; Travis, Tex; Dodge, Ia,
and Seviere. South Carolina. AS in
the case of the six divisions an
nounced last week, these will be built
around the regular infantry regi-
ments in each case.
General March announced also the
conversion OF Is national army cav
airy regiments, numbered from 301
to 315, into field artillery. These
will comprise part of the artillery
units for the new divisions.
General March had nothing to re-
veal as to the extent Of the casual
ties sustained by the American forces
in the recent fighting. He said, how
ever, that General Pershing had been
ordered TO cable the casualties as re-
ceived and that these would be given
out here at once. He added that
there would be no distribution Of
casualties over q long period here
after.