The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-13

Attack.
From a STAFF Correspondent of the
Associated Press With the British
Armies In France. June (via Lon
don. June 8. l2:10 a. m.)-The Brit
ish armies struck today on a new
front and won victory which sup.
plsments the successes at Arras dur
Ing the last two months. The Ger
mans though apparently aware that
the blow was coming and seemingly
prepared to meet II. were driven from
their nearly three years hold on Mes
sines ridge. opposite Ypres. the last
remnant Of an important Belgian
town. which with the help of the
French and British in turn has held
out against all the massed attacks the
Germans could fling against 1t. in
cluding tho first great surprise OF
poison gas as a. means Of suppose edly
civilized warfare.
Ypres In q sense was avenged to-
day for Messines ridge has been the
vantage point from which the Ger
mans have poured torrents Of shells
into the stricken city. The British
also wiped off an. old score against
the Germans for they held the ridge
In October. 1914. and with very thin
force and virtually no artillery fought
bloodily but vainly to hold Il when
the Prussian troops massed their
modern and overpowering weapons OF
war against Il.
Today's attack lacked many of the
elements Of surprise which accom-
panied the battle Of Arras and the
successful storming Of Vimy ridge
There has been no doubt for three
weeks past as to the intentions Of the
British. The Germans knew that n
big push was to be made agains,
Messines and they had plenty of time
to prepare for tho defense Of cha,
place. Today's successes. won along
about 10 mile front, from Observa-
tory ridge. southeast Of Ypres. to
Ploesstert wood. just north Of Arm en-
there's. proved another triumph for
British artillery supremacy.
As the fighting was wholly on BEL
gian soil. however. the Belgian artil.
lery. stationed some distance north
Of the actual line Of attack, lent aid
with a violent bombardment of the
German positions within range Of its
vari-calibred weapons.
Messines ridge is q low lying
promontory extending along the
greater part Of today's fighting front.
1t II an insignificant bit Of ground to
look at from below. At It's greatest
height It rises barely 20 metres above
sea level. The surrounding country
Is so low and fiat. however. that
Messines had an observation value
virtually incalculable. 1t was a pcsi-
tion which dominated the northern
half Of the British line in the West
and no operation of a large character
could be- planned without it's poss IS
sion.
Today's attack was accompanied by
all the arts and deviltries Of latter
day warfare. The enemy guns and
gun crews had been bathed for days
In gas shells sent over by the long
range British guns. The night was
filled with red incendiary flame.
Shells that spurted molten metal in
surging streams Of golden rain crash.
ell In appalling numbers about tho
heads OF the defending soldiers. High
explosives ard shrapnel fire was car.
ried out with such rapidity that the
very earth WI ithed under the force of
the attack.
Mines that had taken two years to
dig and MI with an overwhelming ex-
pIosive broke into an avalanche of
flaming destruction in the half light
o' dawn. This was indeed a Ypres
day 10 retaliation for the vicious suf-
ter'ngs OF two years and eight
months.
Hill so, Of evil renown. always the
nearest menace to Ypres, went u.
with other strong points under the
impulse OF hundreds and hundreds
OF tons of acid explosive compound.