The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-05

AhG war 1oF the WEsG week OF Lne
new year was marked by two inn
portant offensives which might be
classed as major operations, but far
overshadowing them in interest was
the progress OF the peace negotia-
tions at Brest- Litovsk, and the pos
sibility of Russia again being aligned
with the Allies.
The two offensives were those OF
the Germans at Cambria. and OF the
French at Mount Tomba.
The German offensive at Cambria
was launched on the last day OF the
old year and the British counter at
tacks came the following day. The
German attack. was along front of
about a mile, and was made with
heavy forces. The British yielded
some of their positions about
Marcoing, but they were regained
the next day and no important
changes in the lines resulted.
The French Attack.
The French attack was more sue
cessfu1 and more significant, since it
showed that the Allies had aband-
oned purely defensive lighting on the
Italian 'front.' and had assumed the
offensive.
The French in a brilliant attack,
wrested Mount Tomba from the if-
vaders, taking big toll Of prisoners,
and inflicting heavy losses. The
superiority of the French troops over
the Austrians was clearly establish
ed in this engagement. The French
are reported to have captured more
prisoners than they had men engag-
ed in the action. The morale Of the
Austrian troops was reported to be
very low, and they surrendered free
ly. The half starved, ragged condi-'
ton OF the troops plainly told the
reason for this. Even the uniforms
of the officers were ragged and in
sufficient to protect them against the
rigors of an Alpine winter.
Apparently the pace on the west
SEu 4N1uk has HEG1A 4ns9AE4 LAACA III GSAAy
other theater of the war. There has
been little to choose between the
German, French and English troops,
but whenever any of them have been
opposed to an equal number OF sol
diers from any Of the other nations,
their superiority has been marked.
The French had no trouble with the
just as the Germans have
met no stern resistance from either
the Russians or the Italians. 1t is
not a question Of personal bravery,
for the Italians and Russians have
given many striking demonstrations
Of this quality. The superiority is
due wholly to better training and
better equipment. The artillery on
the western front far outclasses any
thing seen on the other fronts, and
the modern trench warfare has been
to an exact science there.
The Russian Situation.
Once again the Russian situation
has occupied the center Of the stage
and the Allies are confronted with a
most important crisis and a wonder
full opportunity to bring the war to
An early conclusion.
Russia, 1t is believed, could main
tain an army of some. 100000 men
n the field. They would be poorly |
squipped, and without adequate
or supplies. bat 1900, 900 men
with nothing more than rifles would
'orce Germany to leave enough men
n the east to protect the long line
rom the Baltic to the Black sea. An
,ffensive by Germany against Russia.
would be futile. It would be like
punching a feather bed. Men and
supplies are what Germany needs,
rot more Russian territory. The
more territory they occupied the |