The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-06
GERMAN LINE WEAK.
GERMAN ARMY BREAKING DOWN
UNDER STEADY PRESSURE.
deterioration OF Morale is Vcrv Ev;.
.len' and British Hammer Them
WIN lncessint and Relentless Fury

washington Oct. 4.-American
army officers are watching with in
tense interest the situation on tbo
western 'front.', which apparently is
reaching climax in the great drive
launched today by the British.
From the many reports indicating
the development of some important
movement, coupled with the continual
futile attacks of the Germans along
the British front. some military OBJ
servers here have become convincod
.tnat the Teutons We're covering o
great withdrawal of their line. Otbor
oflicers. however, believe that tho
German high command has been hurl-
ing It's men at the enemy with the
desire to check an advance, determin-
ed to hold its present lines at onv
cost until winter comes to the rescuo
Officers who think the German ac-
tivity has covered q withdrawal to
shorten and strengthen their lines ex.
pect that behind the German divisions
through which General Haig,s men
were cutting their way today, will
be found new positions fully manned
and strongly built against which the
offensive will crash.
Early reports from the front show
ed the Germans to be surrendering by
hundreds This may mean deteriora-
ton of morale to such an extent that
the rear guard will fail in its mission
and spell disaster to the newly chosen
position.
Some observers are to be found here
who believe that the German army
spirit generally is badly shattered. In
support OF this they cite the continual
peace cry in Germany; the express
sions of prisoners captured by the al
lies; the youth of prisoners. and the
repeated failures of German attacks
during the last few weeks to make
any impression on the British and
French fronts.
In view of these developments
officers believe definite ascendancy
has been established by the allies i,
the morale of their armies. They re-
gard that condition as forecastin,
complete victory.
There have been indications that
the allied commanders have been in
tent on the destruction of the morale
OF the German soldier as much as up-
on forcing their way forward in re-
cent battles. The lavish expenditure
OF artillery ammunition in which they
have engaged steadily for months may
have ben designed largely to shake
the nerves of the men.
There are many observers also who
believe that with the German forces
back from the more rugged country
the fighting may assume more open
character next spring. In the wide
level lands into which the battle lines
are being carried there is no natural
strong position. Sand bags must re-
place ridges and concrete and steel
hills that have made possible the small
forts which have held up many a
charge in the past.
Coupled with this goes the sugges-
ton that real strategic operations
may beuome possible next year for
the first time since the armies dug in
after the retreat from the Marne.
Spring may see a gigantic movement
set afoot to break the deadlock of
trench warfare. Whether a combined
land and sea assault on the exposed
flank OF the German lire might be in
cluded no officer would predict.
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