The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-31
F|GAT|Ne FOR VICTORY.
ALLIED ARMIES PRESSING At
TACK ON HUNS WITH RE.
LENTLESS VIGOR.
Greatest Battle OF War FavOrs Allies
But Has Not Yet Reached Decisive
Stagc-Huns Struggle Desperately to
Save Themselves.

can, pTencn ana BRUSH FORCES press
ing the enemy hard on all sides of the
Aisne- Marne battle front, the air of
Washington was elctric tonight with
a feeling of expectancy. as of great
events impending. Rumors of decisive
victory ran throughout official circles
like wildfire. Untraceable reports were
current that the army of the German
crown prince had been trapped and
even that the crown prince himself
had been captured.
Official reports gave no foundation
on which the feeling of suppressed cx-
element could be based.
"The latest dispatches" said Secre-
tary Baker. "show continued advances
in several places by French, British
and American troops. They are not
extensive but are important and show
that the battle is continuing with
great vigor."
Earlier In the day a press dispatch
told of rumors in London that the
British west of Rheims had scored a
decided success and advanced towards
Fismes, the German rail base midway
between scissors and Rheims. Later
reports confirmed this to the extent
of stride forward by British and
French forces on a three mile front
just west of Rheims, throwing the
enemy back a mile and half. Prob
ably 1t was this which started wild
reports Of a sweeping victory.
Still later came the news Of decided
gains by Franco-American troops
around Fere- en- -Tardenois and north
Of Dormans on the Marne. 1t was evil
dent that the southern and southwes-
tern angle Of the German position
were yielding to the pressure against
them. News came also of important
advances along the Ourcq front.
The outstanding fact tonight ap-
peered to be that the enemy's front
was being forced back all along the
SO mile front.
or the gains recorded the Franco
British drive probably has the great
est possibilities for 1t means that the
eastern jaw OF General Foch's gigan-
tic trap is closing in. Other reports
show the German high command had
massed reserves and concentrated ar
tillery to prevent movement at this
point or at its counterpart, near Sois.
sons, where the western jaw had al
ready been driven ahead in n weeks $
fighting and now faces German re-
serves assembled from the whole bat
tie line.
Should the Franco British forces be
able to enlarge their advance mate
rally, the great trap might be finally
sprung by final overwhelming blows
N Tn hux -
the victories pictured in tonight's ru-
mors might we'll be realized.
To the cool judgment Of army off,
GERS. however. the situation did not
warrant. on the basis of any informa-
tion available at a late hour tonight
the assumption that the time had
come when the jaws of Foch's great
wise might be crushed together. Know
ing what they know of the strength
or the Germans massed to hold back
the menacing flank attacks, they be-
lieved 1T entirely possible for the ene-
my to escape northward. The ques-
tion in their minds, whether he had
finally determined to retreat and sur
render all the ground gained in his
efforts since he struck the French
lines on the Chemin- des-Dames last
May Or had resolved to fight it out to
a finish where he now stands or on
lines slightly withdrawn from their
present positions near the Marne.
Today's advices indicated that fur
ther withdrawal was in progress
along the southern loop of the line.
Franco-American advances north of
Dormans show that points to- which
the enemy has clung tenaciously for
days are being taken. Pressure all
along the line from Jaulgonne to the
Ourcy probably has made these most
southerly ground positions untenable
1t was said.
The situation can not be clearly
gauged until further information is
received as to the Franco British op-
erations west of Rheims. If the at
tack is pressed successfully, 1t seems
impossible that the enemy can stabil-
'ze his lines south Of the Aisne. The
situation on both sides Of the Ourcq
Is equally obscure. but the clear pur-
port of all reports coming in is that
the Germans have been unable to
stem the tide Of the attack, and now
must either fall back swiftly upon
supply lines that are under constant
shell fire or hurl the whole weight
OF their available reserves into the
hight I'm desperate eleventh hour at
tempt to halt Foch's armies In a pitch
ed battle.
Secretary Baker has thus far re-
ceivcd no word of the American losses
In the present lighting There is no
doubt that he construes General Per-
shing's silence on this point as mean
ing that the cost has not been greater
than the number engaged or the effort
made would Justify. German press re-
ports OF tens OF thousands OF Ameri-
cans dead before their lines are put
out as "a sop to the German people, 1t
In believed.
Mr.. Bakers attention was called to
the German dispatch referring to the
American troops as further cannon
fodder" put into action by the French.
'"The best information we have he
said, seems to indicate that they the