The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-20
Much Activity of Minor
Character Along The
Entire Western Line
RUSSIANS EVACUATE
ARMENIAN CENTERS
Trebizond Is Likely to Fall
Into Turkish Hands
Once More
lBv Associated Press.l

Washington, Feb. 20.-After eS-
tonsive preparations silently and
| Systematically carried on. ii lis ap-
| parent that both the Germans and
the allies are ready for the long ex-
peCtod offensive in the west, Score
tary Baker says today in his review
Of military operations for the week
ending, Feb. 18.
While there have been outwardly
no new developments in the military
situation in the west during the per-
| iOd under review, says the COM
munique, yet IT is apparent that both
the enemy and the allies, after ex-
tensive preparations which have been
silently and systematically carried
on. are ready for battle. The Ger
mans have recently withdrawn a
number Of their veteran west front
units from the first line trenches, and
are busily training them in mobile
warfare.
According TO advices received the
German general stan hopes that by
massing a large number Of these
picked shock battaliOns which have
been intensively trained, they may
deliver a crushing blow.
Germans Massed In West.
THE bulk Of the German forces are
now assembled in the west. But q
large number of these units are
wholly unframed in the method Of
western front warfare which differs
radically from that conducted along
other fronts. Furthermore, the Ger
man higher command realizes fully
that their forces will meet with far
more difficult tactical obstacles than
any hitherto encountered by an at
tacking army. A break through was
possible in Russia only after the
morale Of the Russians had been un-
dermined; the same was true in Italy
and we witnessed how speedily the
Italian line was mended.
During the week there has been
much activity Of a minor character
along the entire western front.
''As has already been announced, in
Lorraine a segment Of the line is en-
tirely under the control Of our forces.
Along our front patrol encounters
were numerous. The Germans under
took a raid against our positions and
succeeded in infiicting a few casual
ties. A small American patrol, while
scouting in No Mans Land was ann
bushed by the enemy.
The weather was very rainy dur
ing the first part OF the week and our
troops were busy manning the pumps
in an effort TO keep their trenches
dry. Later clear weather prevailed
and hostile aircraft made frequent
flights to recOnnoiter our positions.
A marked improvement in our anti
aircraft barrage is reported. Artil-
lery duels took place and the Ger
mans showered our lines with gas
shells, which, however. caused no
owing to efficient gas mask
protection.
American Artillery.
TN Champagne, units Of American
artillery participated in an engage
ment undertaken by French forces.
This operation was the most import
ant Of the week in the west After
very careful artillery preparation
during which our batteries co-operat-
ed usefully, French infantry advanc-
ed TO the assault southwest OF ths
Butte -du- Mesnil, along a front OF
about 400 yards. The French. suc-
ceeding in penetrating the German
positions, broke through the second
and reached the third German line.
During this brisk attack, the French
destroyed many enemy shelters, in
hicted much damage to enemy posi~
tiOns besides bringing back $50 prise
Oners.
"Other successful raids were un>
dertaken by French detachments in
the vicinity OF the Chenin- -des-
Danes, east OF Rheims I'm upper
Alsace and elsewhere. In all the
French drove forward twelve very
fortunate reconnaissance undertak-
ings along different parts OF the line.
German units were also active.
Their attempts to reach the French
lines were temporarily successful in
the vicinity Of Bezonvaux and in
Alsace. However, seven German
raids at various other points broke
down. French artillery kept the en-
emy constantly engaged along
widely scattered area.
British Front Active.
The British front was also the
scene of numerous minor engage
ments. No important actions took
place and the enemy, who was evil
IDENTIFY busy with the grouping Of
units and dispensing fresh forces
recently arrived from other theateFM
in the front line, undertook only such
recOnnOitering engagements as to
the new units with the
nature Of the terrain In front of
them .
In the Italian theater the enemy
has again assumed an aggressive att
dtude. ="
The concentration Of an important
body Of German cavalry I'm the vicin
ity Of Riga is noted and it is believed
that the Germans may find Il eGnnd-
lent to advance on Petrugrad, lt IS
difficult to determine the exact status
Of Affairs in southwestern Russia
The Russian contingents are eVae=
uatinE the Armenian centers sonfh
of the Black sea which are being re-
occupied by Turkish attachments.
rreblzond probably soon viii fan ln-
10 Turkish hands.
1T Is important to record that large
Of Arabs are Joining tire
forces Of the Sheik Of Mecca. who S
cooperating with the British.
"The Arabs have defeated the
Turks IN two encounters. occupied
q Mazreh, southeast of the Dead
and are advancing along Gle Hedsz
railway towards Maan."