The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-04
llT1E Of FLANDERS.


Ek~seo~nel1ish O4ensivc Between Lys
Rivsr I'D nocsineho Results In
ssccss Fsily Coamensus~sc with
AnAac1Dattoas-Allies Garry Ger
uaa TssaChes and Take villages.
British Front In France aud TEL
oIun, July 81 (by the Assoc a,sd
41cml l.-An epoch making Offensive.
nunensd by the British and French
eoHinss me German lines hstwesn the
pivsv lSs ana Bossinsho at iaybreak.
hae vish few sxcsptions. accomplish
q 81 thst hAd bsen planned FOE the
ARA tay Of thh battle, which. In its
oofh' seAgss. sivss promise Of being
NE srsats~t conflict Of shs war.
Rbushly spsaking. the British PEN
etrsted positions held by Crown
Prince Rupprsoht Of Bavaria between
noesinshc and warenton and at the
time Of the Ming Of this dispatch werc
u possesston Of the FIRST three lines
- the German srsnches at most
oeinn throughout ; front.
Reports received a the French
troops. which are attacking over the
ttmculs territory between Dixmude
phd point near Boesinshe. pay that
ohsy have forced their way across this
osrsA studded and partly inundated
reg1on and captured the frst tive lines
10 German trenches.
TIE casualties Of the entente allies
nevs hseA surprisinsiy light and the
mvsals Of the mon continues at the
haohest pitch. The contsc. between
ths British and French armies has
been constant and excellent. IS
Late today n was reported that tho
ossmans have begun heavy counter
\ Attack ~ the point where the entente
aillsa forces join.
2 ne German front line trenches.
,vaAeA had been torn to pieces by the
: ~ 1nlnary bombardmsnt, offered lit
~ n6esnce but once the allied
<(Qr>o had penetrated beyond them
Uey mst with neres resistance Mt
rnv potnt4 Directly east Of zilie-
up4o md again > littls 70 the north
esosh. 49, ssupsrsriiy held up
~ ; hesvy machine gun nrs. but only
DnDorurfy. for the troops charged
>otesoA tAs rem % lead and forced
ehe 0trpsns from their positions IL.
1an1 - hand Ashtins. N
Again st = rsdoubt which was
s(rensiy held In the German line and
'dseVndsd by concrete fortifications. the
Britiah were brought to stand by
mAthine gun fire. But they charged
with bayonets and dislodged the Ger
mans.
One Of the most striking and spec
tacular events Of the days fighting
eecurrod at tho so-called Menir tun-
nsi. : srsat underground fortincation
eonstructsd by the Germans or the
nsnia rosd opposite Hoose. The Brit
~ hrsliminary bombardment had
'1orcsd tho Germans to hold the
trsach line thinly here. and the Brit
ish division which was to attack at
dawn Iay out all night In shell holes
within Is yards OF the German line
waiting for the signal to advance.
Whsa the time arrived for the charge
~nd the Brltish gunners had dropped
. protscting barrase on the German
'front.' trench ahead Of the British
,troopa Il was seen that the Germans
had taken to their heels and were
nseins. The British seeing their prey
sscaping. went mad and charged di-
rectiy through their own bsrrage,
fortpnately without heavy casualties.
The hsoin tunnel. which was expected
70 - occupied by several hundred
0si-nans. wss found to be held by
only ~. the rest having retreated.
u vas only at the second line that
she British met resistance and here.
after sharp hand to hand lighting.
they forced the Germans again to
withdraw.
NO check has yet been made on the
number OF German prisoners captured
out they are flowing In steady
stream back OF the British lines. Many
OF those captured at Menin tunnel
and other points are mere boys.
The tanks again played "A promi-
nent part In the opening of the bat
tie and report from all sections OF
the British front say their work ha
been most satisfactory. Large num-
oers OF these monsters were employed
and In many cases pursued their dc.
structivc and uncheckable wav IN n