The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-20
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF WAR

Significance may attach to the re-.
ports the official statements are now
carrying of heavy artillery firein the
sector between Arras and Albert
which comprises the northerIy con-
tInuation of the Somn1e battle front.
London today thus announces a
| considerable increase in the German
| artillery activity between Albert and
| Buequoy, a ten-miIe front covering
about half the distance between Al
bert and Arras.
Similarly the German official state
ment of yesterday reported the Brit
ish guns busy along the entire AL
batteries were subjected to a violent
fire.
1t is along this line that many Of
the military observers are qualtfiedly
predicting that the expected German
blow will be struck.
The reduction of the Arrae salient,
by a mighty blow, would carry the
Germans far toward Doulens, 18
miles north of Amiens and about 13
miles west of the present fighting
line. Capture Of this valuable juno
ton point would badly disrupt the
allied communicating Iines and such
All ODGE&klSH BFVAlA AtS9h tlES"ASSAGby
carry AmienG also into enemy pos
session. Against such a stroke the
allies are reported TO have forces
heavily massed and TO be confidently
awaiting a possible attack.
There was quiet yesterday along
the front at all positions occupied by
American troops except that the air
forces were active. The fighting re-
suited in favor of the Americans, who
brought down two enemy machines,
the American headquarters reports,
while Paris announces another air.
plane TO have been shot down by
American gunners. The America"
air service, however, lost it's star aW-
ator, Major RaouI Lufbery, who fell
a victim to a German two-nnan ma.
chine.
From Ypres to Rheims the allied
armies await confidently the resump-
ton by the Germans Of the offensive
they began two months ago. Good
weather prevails along the fronts in
Flanders and Pioardy but the enemy
has yet shown no disposition to take
advantage of il.
Lack Of fighting spirit in the crack
German divisions IL is reported 10
holding back, a renewal Of the heavy
battles. Most Of the first class units
were battered severely In the fighting
Of the last two months and require
more rest before they can again
take up active operations.
Indications are that the Germans
may extend the fighting front further
south and east along the Aisns into
the Champagne. IL 10 thought they
may strike south of Laon seeking 10
gain the attention Of General Fooh
and his reserve army, while their
real effort is made further north in
Ian attempt 10 separate the British
and French armies.
Meanwhile British raidins activity
grows Iivelier. In a successful op-
Grafton between the Ancre and
soname rivers, east of AnieRs, Aus"
tralian troops have occupied Vile
ur-Aners and captured $50 prison
ers.
On the Same front between somps
and AFras the British have carried
out minor raids northwest Of Albert
and near Hamel. Artillery and
aerial work continues aE high pitch.
There 10 Increased local fighting on
the Italian front, especially in the
mountains in the western Trentine.
Austro- Hungarian troops have at
tempted attacks in the Mantello and
Adanello regions but were driven
back, In the Giudlcaria valley, in the
same gore, the Italians captured
prisoners in breaking up an enemy
outpost.
Except for che storn1ing of Casa
Easscn ridge, north OF Monte Grappa
BY Ehe Italians who captured prison
ere the activity on tEle front between
Lake Garda and the Adriatic has
Continued on page 81