The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-18
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF THE War

(By Asaoclated Prees. }

As the allied offensive in Mace
donia continues to develop the i'm"
preston is growing that an opera
ton of major proportions may have
been begun there. The front whore
the fighting 10 going on is almost
shut off from the world and except
for official reports there are few
the entente forces. However, the
attack which was launched on Sun
day 10 still going on and 10 gaining
important ground east of Monastir.
Sofia admits that the allies have
been successfui at some points and
says that the Bulgarian troops have
been withdrawn To- positions fur
ther. north. This may be taken as
confirmation OF the reports from al
lied sources telling of the successes
of the drive over the high ridges
which the Teutonie powers have
held for the past 13 months or more.
Maps of the region where the bat
tie is being fought show that the
allies have carried positions on high
ground and that IL is possible that
they have passed through the gone
where the hardest resistance might
be expected.
Two months ago this morning, the
aIlies struck the western flank Of
the German forces in the Marine sa-,
Iient. At the time that General
Mangin hurled the French and Am.
eriean armies in that sector against
the enemy the movement was be-
lieVed to be but counter offensive
and that Marshal Feeh had merely
seized on the opportunity presented
by the German offensive begun on
July is TO strike q blow that might
defeat that effort TO capture Rheims
and perhaps to drive the German
wedge nearer 60 Paris.
Viewed in the light of events that
have since transpirsd, the attack
against the Germans on July 1S, was
really the first step in a mastery
campaign which has not only wrest.
ed the initiative. from the Germans
but has forced them back along the
line from Ypres to Hheims to Writ
uaily the lines where they stood be-
fore they began their rnighfiest
drive of the war on March 81. With
the exception Of narrow strips of
ground in the Flanders sector from
east of Bapaun1e to the ST. Gobain
forest and along the AisnO between
successes of spring and early sum-
nner have been liquidated. In addi-
tion the Germans have lost vital po.
sitions before Arras and have been
forced 20 retreat from the st. Mihiei
salient which for four years stood
like an arrow pointed at the heart
OF Eastern France.
American, British and French
forces have been carrying out sue-
cessfuI "1ibblinn" operations all
along the line during the last day
or two and have won local tactical
successes at various points.
The history of Focil's campaign
since July 1a would appear 70 In
dieate that the allies will not hesi-
tate long before striking new blow
somewhere along the front.
In northern Russia The BoIshevik
forces have been defeated by the
allies who are advancing south Of
Archan9el. lin the far south IL is
reported from kfev, tE1e BoIsheviki
have been successful in q number of
combats against the Czech. SIovak
armies operating ia the volsa re-
dion and along the Black sea lit-
toral in the government of kubap.
Burning towns along the MoselIs
river are considered ae evidence
that the Germans are preparing a
further retirement in the Lorraine
sector. IL is said that an elaborate
system Of defenaea has been corr
sEructed to receive the German ar.
mics which will defend Metz.