The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-29
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR
6gy Associated Press.l

The Italian, British and French seri-
ously threaten the important rail-
road points Of conesfiano and Oder.
20 and two Of the three railroad
lines supporting the Auatro. Hungar.
ians on the Piave front.
On the western front in France
heavy fighting virtually is at q stand
still northward from Lecateau to the
Dutch frontier but pressure continues
with gains for the French between
the Oise and the Serre.. An artillery
duel is in progress on the American
front northwest of Vsrdun but no
infantry fighting has been reported.
While the allies have thrown
forces across the Piave on a front
Of about 80 miles the heaviest fight
ing has been betWean Colgonia and
odeFzo where the British and ltaI-
ians have advanced more than three
miles, making a formidable wedge in
river and between two of their main
communication lines. The allies are
within two miles of both consgIiano
and oderzo. Along the Piave south
of Oderzo there has been little fight
ing but the allied advance in The
north would tend TO force the Aus
srians TO evaeuate the IowIands Of
the lower Piave.
FEINTs I'M NORTH.
Apparently the allied thruats IN
the mountain zone between the PiaVs
and the Brenta were feints for the
of the enemy from the more forn1id.
able movement across the Piavs.
Troops and supplies are being rushed
20 the Piave front and il 10 evidently
proposed TO force the offensive to the
utmost.
In addition TO the British, Italian
and French troops already taking
part In the fighting, American troops
are reported 20 be in reserve. The
American infantry is not large, prob
ably two regiments or less and not
unlikely the Americans will be bril-
gaded with the italians or British,
The fighting east Of the Piave has
been heavy the Austrians strusgI-
ing bitterly TO prevent the allies from
snIarslns their gains on the east
East of the oiss on the Frsnoh
front the, army OF General DShensy
rapidly 10 encireIing Guiss. On the
south they are in the suburbs of the
Hnd Rave captured German first
line trenches besides enemy bar
racks and hospital. Further south
the French are marching northeast
ward between Guise and Marie and
smashing eli the way through the
Hundine position.
Since the beginning Of his advance
between the Oise and the SsFre,
Dsbeney has moved forward
more than five miles on 8 front OF
about 16 miles. Along the Serrs the
enemy evidently continues to with
draw toward Marles as the French
war office says French patrols are
in contact with the Germans on this
sector.
SUMMARY OF EARLY NEWS.
Suddenly shifting the direction of
The attack the italian and British
troeps on the italian front have
crossed the PiaVe over a wide frGnE
and are driving q wedgs into tbs
Austrian line in the direction of tiis
city of Oderzo.
When the Italian front famed up
late last week the storm center OF
the allied attack was apparently be-
tween the Brenta and Piave rivers.
Between the Montello plateau and
The point where the battle line leaves
The Piave to mount into the heights,
there was some hard fighting and IL
seemed probable that the allied eff
fort TO break through would be eH-
srted In q northerIy and northeast =
srIy direction. This evidently was
the view of the Austrian command
which rushed troops into the Monte
Pertiea region and regained some of
The ground lost in the first on"
slaught,
Then came the development of
what seems to be the real attack. II
was along the Piave river below the
Monticello pIateau where the Austrian
armies met a terrible defeat last
June and July. The river has been
safely negotiated and official state
rnsnts show that the allies are over
three miles eastward of the stream
and hold the eastern bank for ap-
seven miles. -. ...s..
Oderzo is an important railroad
center and its capture by the allies
would probably result in an enforced
retirement along the Piave river TO
the sea. IL 10 also probable that a
adjustment OF the line northward
would become necessary.
The French are developing &he suc-
sesses won by General Deheney'a ar
Sunday when the German line
Sunday when the German lines was
5ierced and the enemy was forced TO
retire from EIfe sharp salient which
he has been stubbornly holding. Re-
ports indicate further progress by
General Debeney IN this sector and
at the came time it seems that the
French forces along the line OF the
Aisne have resumed their attacks
which are intended TO drive the Ger
mans back on their lines OF commu-
running in the direction of
Hirsons
American units have Joined with
the French in this sector and have
advanced upwards of a mile In their
particular sector. II would seem
that the British south Of VaIeneien-
nes have reached a point where the
line of The scheIdE 20 the northward
may be turned. " Field Marshal
t4afa succeeds in forcing the enemy
10 svacuate WaIeneiennes the advance
of the British, French and Belpians
in the direction OF Ghent may soon
be resumed.
East of che Msuse American troops
have frightened their hold on the po-
sitions won by them fast week, while
west of the river there has been con-
slant pressure brought 80 bear on
The enenay'e position. Minor tactical
successes are reported from t1is Sec
tor.