The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-15

ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF WAR


man offensive having failed to deveI-
op, the allies are continuing their
tactics of anticipating the thrust by
reaching out for new vantage points
from which the better to resist il.
The French were tho asgressors in
the last operation of this kind, car
ried out late yesterday. They pushed
out from their lines south of Halles,
on the Somme front, their objective
being a wood situated at about the
point where the Germans had made
their furthest westward advance.
The operation was entirely sue.
eessfui, resulting in the capture of
the wood, on the slopes west of the
AVre river, possession of which i'm
proves considerably the allies de-
fensive position in this important sec.
tor.
The Germans evidently recognized
this fact for they eountered strongly
at night. Their determined attack
was failure, however, for the
French remained in entire control of
their new position, after having cut
the enemy up badly with their fire,
besides taking more than three score
prisoners.
ARTILLERY DUEL.
The artillery fire is reported by
Paris to have been violent last niaht
north of Montdidier, just to the south
of this sector, where American
troops are holding a portion of the
front. The bombardment wac severe
also along the southerIy side of the
Montdidier salient, as far east as
NoyonD and the Germans attempted
to attack at one point on this line,
but were promptly checked.
The London statement also indi.
Gates considerable activity by the
hostile artillery on the British por-
ton of the Somme front, in the
Sonme and Ancre valleys, while this
morning it increased in the reuion
between the Somme and the Ancre,
near Morlancourt, where the Austral-
ians recently have made notable ad-
Vances and where yesterday they re-
pulsed a German effort to reeapture
the lost ground.
On the Flanders battle front the
Germans likewise speeded up their
fire early today in the KENNEL Sec
tor after having worked their au ne
moderately hard during the night on
the southerIy side of the Lye salient,
In the sethune and Nieppe wood re.
niOns.
In Flanders and Pieardy there are
still no indications that the Germans
are ready to resume infantry opera
tions on a large scale.
Local enemy attacks, probably for
the purpose of feeling out" the al.
lied positions in advance of big at
tack have been repuIsed north of
KENNEL and south Of Albert.
On the southern battlefield the Ger.
man effort was made on a front of
one mile near MorIaneourt, between
the Somnle and Anere rivers, but wac
not pushed strongly. The enemy gain
an initial success and penetrated the
British lines at one point, beinq re-
pulsed elsewhere. A counter attack
by Austrian troops fully restored
the British position. The attack
north of KENNEL was against the
French on Hill a and adjoining eIe.
ments. The Germans gained the hill,
which dominates the surrounding re-
gion, but Field Marshal Haia reports
they were repulsed finally.
Almost week has gone by since
the Germans displayed any marked
Infantry activity and while the at
taeks north Of KENNEL and south of
A'nert apparently were not in geeat
strength they were made against
the vital sectors of the two German
driven salients and where the enemy
VIII probably launch his next heavy
attempt or attempts. II is not un-
likely the attacks were made to as
certain the results of the German ar.
tiIlery fire, which continues exceed
inely violent along these sectors.
ACTIVITY BEHIND LINES.
Considerable activity is reported to
be going on behind the German lines
IN the region of Montdidier, whore
the Americans hold a part of the al.
lied line. French batteries have
broken up German troops coneentra-
tions and conveys around Montdidier
as we'll as near Noyon. The artillery
fire along the American zones in Pr
cai'dy and northwest of TouI, has been
below normal.
in the Italian theater the artillery
fire 10 more lively, especially in the
Trentino and on the mountain front
from Lake Garda, to the Piavs. ltal-
ian troops on Monte Corno have re-
pulsed further Austrian attempts 20
regain the summit OF the heiunt.
Much interest is displayed in al
lied capitals as TO the meeting be-
tween the German and Austrian en-.
perors and their diplomatic and mill
tary assistants and especially In the
truth behind the apparently purpose
ly vague official statement on its rec
Suits That a more firm alliance bee
tween the two countries has been css
rnented is certain and II is believed
Austria Hungary has been forced 20
make up for her delinquencieS as an
ally of Germany by getting deeper
into the power or the stronger nation.
Developments in the near future, it
is felt, probably will show whether
Emperor Charles has been compelled
to renew the offensive against Italy
or 70 send large numbers Of his troops
TO aid the exhausted Germans on the
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