Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-20
BEATING THEM BACK.
British Capture Six Thousand German
Prisoners.

Prisoners.
British and French veterans have
made another vicious and successful
smash ut the Hindenburg line. Sweep
ing forward on 4 front Of % miles,
they went ahead from one and third
to three miles, taking many prisoners.
The most important aspect OF the ad-
vance is that ii makes more certain
the capture Of ST. Quentin, which the
Germans have been ordered to hold
at all costs. This important city Is rir-
tually surrounded on three sides and
its fall seems only matter Of days.
Field Marshal Haig's Third anu
Fourth armies charged over the trench
system occupied by the British before
they were pushed back by the Teutonic
flood last March. They captured In
wide sectors, the outer defenses OF the
Hindenburg line.
The British assault was over front
of 16 miles, from Holmon. west OF st.
Quentin. to Gouzaucourt. north OF
Epehy. In their advance, which reach
ed a depth Of more than three miles
at some points. they took more than
5000 prisoners.
Not only did the blow bring nearer the
capture Of st. Quentin, which the Ger
mans are struggling desperately to
hold, but 1t went far into the wiping
out Of the only bulge in the British
line which resembles a salient. Epehy,
at the apex Of the bend, has been TAX
en- and the same fate has befallen
Gouzaucourt and Hargicourt. which
stood at the end OF the wings.
The importance which the Germans
attached to the territory wrested from
them Is indicated by the announcement
that they launched the counterattacks
as soon as they could organize, from
Hargicourt to the Omignon rivulet
| The success Of their efforts remained
somewhat obscure, but II Is not be-
lieved they can recover the ground
they have lost.
While the French advance was less
spectacular than the British with whom
they co-operated they were equally
successful in gaining their obJectives
They moved forward on q front OF six
miles to an average depth OF one and
half miles. adding several hundred
prisoners to the British bag. They now
hold the southern outskirts Of Contcs-
court, less than three miles from the
suburbs Of st. quentin.
This city. where the troops of vor
Goeben scored a great victory in 1871
is one Of the buttressess OF the Douai-
Cambrai-St. Quentin-Loan line, be-
/
Germans would not fall back. The
French in the outskirts Of La Fert
with st. Quentin invested and with
the British battling doggcdly for Cam
brai, the great Hindenburg defense
system Is in danger of being preached al
three Of its strongest points Once
ousted from 1t the Teutons will have
back of them no strong Notifications
until they reach the Maubeuge defens'
eS.
The taking Of st. Quentin remain:
q difficult task, however, for the Ger.
mans are In strong positions and cap
tured order from General Won Morger
to the Fourteenth reserve corps EN-.
phasizes the importance Of the terrain
they hold. He ordered them not tC
imminent decisive battles"
| While the British and French were
forging ahead relentlessly in the West
the Serbs and the French In Macedon.
la were making more emphatic theil
defeat OF the BulSarians. who have been
re- enforced by German troops. There Is
every indication that the offensive In
the near East Is Of major proportions
and that II will develop to the limit
II has widcncd to the west OF SakoI
and the east Of Vetrenik until the front
extends over 16 miles. The Allies have
penetrated at some points a distance
Of ton miles.
The resistance Of King Ferdinand's
troops Is weakening as they are beinl
forced back.
| While Marshal Foch was following
his policy Of striking at widely sepa.
rated points along the battle line the
day was one Of comparative quiet for
General Pershing's field army. There
was 10 activity OF consequence on their
front beyond the usual artillery and
patrol activities.