The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-29
OFFICIAL WAR NEWS.
SECRETARY OF WAL, BAKER rs.
SUES FIRST STATEMENT
Review OF Operations in France Last
Wcek-Asccndency Has Definitely
Passed to the Allics-Their Policy
Is to Wear Down the Enemv Inv
Steady Pressure.

washington, Sept. 26.-The Amer,-
can governments first official state-
ment concerning military operations
in Europe was issued tonight by Sec
retary Baker inaugurating series
which in time will be devoted large.
ly to activities Of the United States
expeditionary forces. 1t says that
while ascendancy on the Western
front was passed definitely to the al
lies, they are content merely to wear
down the enemy until the force OF
the American army makes itself felt
in the field.
| Operations for the week ending
September % are reviewed by Mr..
Baker without reference to the Amer
lean force now in France. The state
ment follows:
THE secretary of war authorizes
the following statement dealing with
military activities in Europe for the
week ending September %.
"As the time draws near when
military operations on a large scale
on the Western front come to a stand
still owing to the approach of win
ter, 1t becomes evident that the enc
mby does not feel himself in posi-
ton to undertake the much advertised
offensive action SO often boasted of at
home during the past summer, in or
der to end the war victoriously by
Christmas.
1T may be stated affirmatively that
the ascendancy in the West has def
nitely passed to the allies, though
the latter are content by tactics of
attrition to wear down the enemy,
giving no rest or respite until such a
time as the force of our army may
make itself felt in the field.
THE week just closed has been one
OF increased activity On the part of
the allies on the Western front and
may be taken as presage of what
the enemy is to expect next spring
Beginning with desultory artillery fire
along a broad front, which gradually
narrowed down to an intense bonn
bardment along what is known as
the Anzac ridge. about one mile
southwest of Zonnebeke southwark
through Nuns Wood to the Ypres-
Menin Road the British increased
their artillery preparations to a den
sity hitherto unattained.
The early days of the week were
marked by wet, foggy weather, MAX
ing artillery observation difficult and
any offensive undertaking almost
impossible.
The weather having cleared by
Thursday, September 20, the British
launched their attack. The infantry
advance was preceded by barrage
of greater intensity than has ever be-
fore been undertaken in any engage
ment during the course of the war
Five distinct curtains of fire werc
stretched ahead Of the men as they
began to advance through No Mans
Land.
In spite of the desperate resist
ance Of the enemy, whose lines were
protected by concrete dugouts, scat
tered over a wide area, and deep mud
holes. which impeded the attacking
infantry. the British were able to gain
important tactical positions.
In the face of counterattacks
pushed home vigorously by the enc
my, the British remained in full pos
session of the captured detectives
which they still hold.
I'm other sectors Of the West
front there have been trench raids on
large scale and general activity OF
some Importance
while the British were busily en-
gagged in breaking down the enemy
resistance in Flanders the Germans
attempted minor diversions along the
french line, particularly northeast OF
Nancy, which were repulsed.
East Of Craonne the French artil-
iery broke up an attempted German
attack, while French detachments
penetrated German trenches, destroy
ed dugouts and brought back pris-
oners in the region Of Godat.
THE week hos witnessed great AZ
tiVity In the air. During two French
bombing expeditions were dropped
"3,ooO pounds Of projectles on enc
my territory, including the barracks
ana factories at Stuttgart and the
Austrian camp of Colmar. as we'll az
bases south Of Metz.