The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-22
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE WAR
(By Associated Press }

1 .Z kBy Associated PFe6s.l
| allied troops on the northern end
OF the front in France and Belgium
today are driving into the German
line from west Of Ghent past Teurnai
to valeneiennss. This is the line of
| the Seheldt and two of the important
points on it--TouFnai and Valencien-
nes-are almost within the grasp of
the British.
German resistance is stiffenina
| between Tournai and Valeneiennes,
the southern end of the 80 mile line
from Valeneiennes to the Dutch
The British armies, however, con.
finue to progress. Oreq, within less
than a mile of Tournai on tho west,
has been captured and the British
hold la SentinelIe, one mile west of
Valeneiennes.
North of Journal, the British are
along the SeheIdt on a front of five
miles and north and south of this
sector rapidly are gaining the west
ern bank of the river. Between Val
enciennes and lie Cateau the British
maintain their pressure and have
reached the EcailIon river at Thiant,
southwest of VaIanciennes. French
forces continue their pressure on the
front from the junction of the oise
and the Serre eastward to VouzieFs.
On the extreme left they have ad-
vanced north Of the Serre. East of
the Aisne at Vouziers the Germans
have ceased their violent efforts to
diSiodse the French from important
hill positions. The French here are
in a position to outfIank the Germans
facing the Americans on the sector
west of the Meuse, which accounts
for the strong German efforts to drive
the French back. -.
General Gouraud's men, however,
have defeated all enemy attacks.
The text of Germany's reply TO
President Wilson has arrived in
Washington. IL is probable that no
announcement of a decision by the
President will be made before to-
morrow.
SUMMARY OF EARLY NEWS.
Development of the plan being fol-
lowed by the general high command
in conducting IT'S retreat from north
ern France and Belgium make II ap-
parent that Metz is being used as a
pivot for the movement. While the
Germans are pouring fresh divisions
into the line in front of the Americans
northwest of verdun in an attempt to
hold the line firmly, the rest of the
German legions are swinging back to-
ward the Belgian frontier.
There are several situations along
the front, however, which render ii
possible and even probable that Mar
shall Foch will seriously interfere with
the orderly retirement of the enemy
forces. IL seems certain that the
Hundina line has been outfIa nsted in
Belgium, where the Seheldt river has
been crossed and east of lie Cateau,
KSFbA he HRfk
pear to have fought their way through
all obstruetions. This line, therefore,
may be rendered unteRahle for the
Germans who may be forced to fall
back to the line of the Meuse before
attempting to stand at bay.
In the meanwhile attacks by the
allies in Belgium east of the SeIle
river and in the Disc region threat
en- to diSoraanize the German retreat.
In Belgium the French and British
are boring into the eneny,S positions
outfiank the German forces still held-
ing the line TO the southwest. Bel
aian troops advancing toward Ghent
are systematically clearing the coun- |
try from the Dutch frontier down as
far as Eecioo, on the Eys- -Zeebrugge |
canal. The French are within seven |
miles of Ghent, while the British have |
reached the SeheIdt near Tournai.
Field Marshal Haig's men are with" |
in two miles of VaIeneiennes and the |
Germans are expected to abandon |
that city very quickly. Farther south |
the railroad running from Nalencien- |
nies to the Ardennes region is in !
peril and only increased resistance |
will prevent these British and Amer |
leans from cutting in. In the Serre- |
Disc sector the French have made a |
material progress at various points.
In the Champagne region General |
Berthelot and Gouraud have not been
able to advance during the last day |
nor have the Americans in the Ar
sonne been able TO shake the defense
Of the Germans, although RaPPe
woods and Hill 299 have been taken |
from the enemy by q sharp attack.
French patrols have reached the |
Danube riber at Vidin. This town is |
on the southern bank of the river and
the arrival of allied troops there es-
tahIishes contact with Rumania from
the south. -,
Il threatens Austria from the south
east If sufficiently heavy infantry |
forces are able to reach that region
Newspaper comment on the Ger
man reply to President Wilson's lat
est note seems TO reflect sentiment |
opposed to serious consideration of
the claims made by the new govern
u1ent of Berlin. Comment IN English
Journals appear to show that the same
yiew is entertained in London.