The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
PLAYING WAITING GAME.
biiITISH AND FRENCH UPSET
GERMAN PLAN.
battle Of Picardy Fails to Net Big
Results Expected by Invaders, Who
started Out tO Ovcrwhclm uIaig's
Men on First Day of Offensive and
Gain Somme Line, Says War De-
partment Review.

i
Washington, April 7.--French and
British tenacity have upset the am
bitious plans of the German high com
mand for the battle OF Picardy. saws
the war departments weekly military
review tonight and now the enemy
determined to gain some sort Of sue
cess at any cost. is throwing fresh
forces into the battle in an effort to
secure limited objectives. Because o:
this, the situation is expected to re-
main uncertain for some time.
General Improvement in the strate
sic position OF the allies is noted an,
the review declares that under Gen.
elal FOch the allied military machine
is working smoothly and efficiently
IN stemming the German assault.
There fs no mention whatever
the American troops reported hurry
ing to the front to join the British ant
mentions that several American trans
port sections have taken an activ,
part in the battle and that the Amer
lean aviation service is cOOperatin,
with the British
AT the opening of the third wee.
OF the German offensive, We find tina
the enemy is still far short of al
tanning his principal objective" say
the review.
Ii Ia now evident that the German
high command contemplated over
whelming the British at the outset, be
tween the Oise and the Sensee, and
driving wedge into the Franco
British forces.
The enemy fully expected to nc
complish II decision in the field H.
the course of one great battle Tho
success of this plan depended on be
ing able to obtain break through
the British front and advance so rap
idly that neither the French nor tn,
British reserves could come up i'm tim,
to close up the breach i'm the line anu
restore the order OF battle.
Evidence OF prisoners tends to con
firm that the enemy hoped to gain tn,
line Of the Somme by the evening
the first day OF the offensive. AS
matter OF fact. 1t took the German.
ten days. The stubbornness of British
resistance compelled the Germans t(
draw more heavily on their own re
serves.
THE German high command is nov
throwing fresh forces into the bat
tie I'm an effort to secure some of it,
more limited detectives.
Under the leadership Of General
Foch the allied military machine il,
functioning with precise smoothness
The morale OF the allied troops re
mains high.
The German offensive has not spent
itself, the situation will continue un
certain for some time to come. How
ever. the general strategic and tacti
cal position OF the allies is becoming
more favorable.
After period of relative cain
early in the week, during which tn,
enemy was busy bringing UP his heavy
guns. another powerful attack wa
launched along the line now held by
the French. stretching from tn
Amiens- Roye Road to Grievesnes. The
enemy was able to make slight head
way Fierce fighting continue.
and hostile units have penetrated
westward to within five miles OF the
main line OF the Paris-Amiens Rail
road.
Allied forces are massed to check
the invaders in this area. The French
have extended their lines northward
There has been relatively less ac-
tivity north OF the Somme, though the
Gcrmans have made a number of Sc
rious attempts To encirclc Arras. Al
attacks in this sector have been beat.
en- OFF by the British.
Allied aircraft has been particular
ly active throughout the week no
only i'm maintaining superiority i'm tn,
air and keeping the skies clear Of hos
tile craft. but more especially il
homb,ng enemy dumps. conveys
trains and rail heads. British esca.
drillcs did fine work i'm dispersinp
German units going into action will
machine guns.
~ number of American transpor