The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-29
ALLIES make BIG GAINS,
CLAIM CAPTURE OF 10000 UNIN.
JURED GERMANS IN
WEST.
Action Is Thought to BE Result of
New Gigantic. Offensive Move
trenches Captured for 20 Miles
: SHIPS Aid by BOmbardlng TeutOn
Positions from Coast.

London, Sept. 2G.-Heavy and con-
tinuous attacks by the British and
French have cost the Germans more
than 10000 unwounded men taken
prisoners and 20 miles of trenches in
the West.
SOuchez has been stormed and cap
tured and an advance is reported
north Of Arras. The assaults began
Saturday morning and at last accounts
battles were raging ferociously.
A German official statement for
warded from Berlin admits German
lreverses.
While the allies were advancing into
German entertainments British battle
ships were battering away at German
positions between Zeebrugge and
Nieuport.
For several weeks there had been
an almost incessant bombardment
with big guns, increasing late this
week in intensity, particularly in the
sectors where infantry attacks took
place. This prepared the way for the
general assault.
| The French, who have the most i'm
portant gain to their credit, made their
Ichief onset around Perthes, Beause-
jour and Suiphez and Champagne.
where in December they made a con-
isiderable gain. This attack backed
by tremendous artillery fire gave
them possession Of more territory than
they have retaken from Germans since
the latter dug themselves in after the
battle of the Marne.
According to the French. the Ger
mans were driven out of their trenches
over front Of Is miles, varying in
depth from two-thirds Of q mile to
1.-TWO and half miles. The French in
this engagement captured $4,000
prisoners.
/ The importance Of this gain lies in
ne fact. that every yard OF ground
taken in this region weakens the Ger
man position around verdun, from
(which the Germans might be COM
PEELED to retire should the french
make a further advance.
The French have regained trenches
least of the "Labyrinth' in the .Arras
district, which was the scene Of much
theavy fighting earlier in the year.
There the Germans had built what
they considered almost impregnable
Notifications.
This attack was made in coopera-
tion with the British, who attacked
on either side of La Bassee canal. The
attack south Of the canal, Field Mar
shal Sir John French reports, was a
complete success. Trenches five miles
In width and about 1000 yards in
depth were taken at this point.
This push forward gives the British
possession Of the road from Lens to
La Bassee. which was used by the
Germans for moving troops and sup
plies north and south and threatens
to outflank the German troops which
hold the town of Lens.
Hill No. 70, one of the positions
taken on the road, is less than a mile
directly north Of Lens, while Hulluch.
(which also fell into the hands of the
British, is at the end of the road near
La Bassee. 1t is only IL miles from
Hulluch to Lille. the capital of north
ern France.
North Of the canal the British, al
though they fought all day yesterday,
were unable to hold the ground gained
and had to fall back to the trenches
which they had left in the morning.
lThe attack. however, accomplished
one purpose, as. according to Field
Marshal French, German reserves
were sent to check this move, thus
Igiving the British south Of the canal
an opportunity to consolidate their
NEW possessions unmolested.
somewhat similar manoeuvre took
|place north and south of the Menin
road, east Of Ypres, and the results
were the same. North of the road
the British were unable to hold the
German trenches, but on the south
they gained about 600 yards Of Ger
man trenches and consolidated the
ground won.
SO far as reported the British took
LOO prisoners with eight guns and
several machine guns.
Some of the tierccst fighting of the
campaign is progressing on the Rus
sian front. The Germans continue
trying to drive the Russians out of
Dvinsk. while in VOlhynia and Galicia
the Russians continue to harass the
Austro-Germans who had designs on