The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-13
OIL SUMTER s. @, WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 49, 1917
GLAD TO SURRENDER.
GERMAN PRISONERS BEWIJDER.
ED AND WEARY.
Divisions From Eastern Front Ar,,x.
ed by Fury of War in the West.

British Headquarters in France
June (via London, by the Associated
Press).-Comparative quiet reiened
today along the front of the latest
British attack which wrestcd the
Messines ridge from the Germans
Thursday. The noise of the guns was
quite appalling, but otherwise the day
was one Of almost complete ina ction
Tonight also is quiet and the British
had thoroughly consolidated their
gains and are able to defend them
against any counterattack the tenn
porarily bewildered Germans may
commence.
Prisoners kept coming in today in
increased numbers. Dazed by nearly
a week of most terrifying gun fire and
half famished as a result of the
starvation barrage," the British had
kept on their lines Of communication
md supply, these men upon reaching
the cool, grassy spots within the barb.
ed wire stockades, erected for their
anticipated arrival. stripped them
selves to the waist. tore off their
heavy trench boots and flung them
selves on the ground where they soon
were lost in the heavy sleep of COM
plete exhaustion. For them the war
Is over and their relief at being out
Of 1t was only too apparent.
The men who had seen most of
their military service on the Russian
front were the most demoralized of
ali.
I'VE had heard much Of the con-
ditions on the Western 'front.'" said
one of these. to the Associated Press.
"but we always thought there was
much exaggeration in them. We hal
no realization what war was.
when we came from Russia q few
weeks ago. we were told we were
going about the British but that we
need not worry as the British were
not in a position to accomplish any.
thing serious against us in view Of
their offensive at Arras The artillery
fire we experienced when we first
came to the Messines ridge was more
terrible than anything we had seen
OF heard on the Eastern front.
|
ed their intensive bombardment. It
was horrible to endure. Few of us
ever thought we could get out alive.
Ihere was distinct sense of relief
when the mine was exploded yester
Gay morning. We knew then that an
attack was under way and that wc
soon should be dead or in a position
to surrender. Most Of us can FRANKLY
say that we preferred the latter.
This experience of ours should
end the war. We have no possible
chance to win. Two days ago my di-
vision was made up of three splendid
German regiments. We saw these
men shrivel up in a hurricane of fire
with which we could not possibly
compete Now my division exists no
more
The battle of the Messines ridge will
ever stand out as a wonderful trj-
umph for the British artillery. The
deepest significance in the striking
victory lies in the fact that the Ger.
mans seemed to know the attack was
coming and had endeavored in every
possible way to defend themselves
against It, But as fast us they brought
ur new batteries, the British guns
were upon them. British airplanes al
ways were over the German lines
watching every move.
All the prisoners say they had been
warned within the last few days that
the English might attempt an Of
fensive and that the main attack
might come in the Messines sector
with the hope Of nipping off the Wyas-
chaete sectOr--all Of which has been
accomplished. The German troops in
the line had been ordered to be or
the alert every moment
Prisoners say they were ordered to
hold the front line at all costs, al
though their commanders verbally
admitted that this line would be taken
by the first assaulting waves. 1t was
hoped, however, Immediately to eject
tho British with the much talked of
German stOrming troops.
German troops who but recently
came into the lines said they had seen
many guns moving toward the front.
This worried them considerably for