The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-08
BRITISH HOLD FAST.
HUNS EXPECTED GREAT RESyrITc
FROM DRIVE.
British Thwart What Is Believed n
Have Been Attempt TO Duplicate
Success III Italy.

With the British Army in France.
Dec. 4. (By the Ass ociated Press) -
That Field Marshal Haig prevented
the Germans from breaking through
his lines on the Cambria front dis
counts the small gains which the
enemy hosts achieved yesterday ut q
terrible cost of life. 1t means that
yesterdays critical period has been
successfully passed and for the sec
ond time in four days Field Marshal
Iiaig thwarted what is believed to
have been German attempt to du-
plicate the German-Austrian -Hungar-
ian performance in Italy.
Germans were collected from the
Eastern theatre and various parts Of
, the German lines in the West At La
Vaccucrie the enemy fought his way
through the town and one party pen
ctrated for some hundred yards into
British territory. This was the ex-
|
The British commander voluntarily
pulled back his line to the west and
southwest, of Masnieres to make it
firmer. This morning the British line
was near the western part of Mar
Going Copse but included Marcoing, q
small triangular piece of territory
therefore has been sacrificed by the
British.
A heavy concentration Of German
guns east of Councillor suffered great
ly by the excellent British counter
battery work. The battle probably
has not yet run it's course but the
defenders will be in much better
shape to handle the situation.
The Germans up to noon today had
not renewed their attempts of yester-
day TO smash the British front south
of Narrowing, but it seems improb-
able that the enemy will allow mat.
ters TO remain as they now are
The situation, therefore is still ono
That can not be dismissed lightly, il
view OF the heavy concentration O,
guns and troops which Won linden.
! burg has brought to bear on this lin ,
There has been no change in the
respective positions of the oppoanl
forces since last night. Exhaustion
and the necessity of reorganizing hi.
depleted ranks have undoubtedly fore.
cd the enemy 20 pause for q breathire
spell
The ground won by the German.
yesterday could in 10 wise compeu-
safe for the shamblcs caused bv Won
Hindenburg's disregard for the live
OF has men, But it must be borne in
mind that he was playing for vastly
bigger stakes than have yet been won
In his latest attacks there were un-
doubtedly tremendous efforts to breok X
through with great possibilities of a
drive out into the open such as he
engineered in Italy.
The situation today was much cas-
ier for the British. Yesterday was adj
inittedly rather anxious one. but
abundant reinforcements arrived. The
checking of the Germans incesga Mt
massed attacks was due only to the
gallantry Of the British soldiers who
did not yield before fierce assaults by
greatly superior numbers.
In their stupendous efforts against
La Vacquerie the Germans swept for
ward in dense waves with absolutely
no concealment and were slaughtered
During the afternoon they delivered q
very heavy attack also west Of Mas
nieres and succeeded in SMASHING
through the British line but an i'm
mediate counterattack forced them to
fall back.
The open fighting which has de-
veloped along the new battle front
has created an entirely new situation.
which holds out many po9sib: :lities
and now more than ever involves the
question Of generalship, which may
decide the issue.