The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-27

ONLY ONE RAILWAY LINE LEFT
FOR HUNS USE.
General March Describes situation
Existing ON Front I'm France Where
Allies Continue To Make Progress.

sprung in the Aisne- Marine region in
desperate effort to stabilize theil
lines without crushing the force.
Withdrawing from the Chateau-Thier
ry and Marne salients. Official re,
ports to the war department, however
show that the enemy has but a singI,
railway line remaining i'm his hand,
over which to get his heavy materia
out OF the pocket into which he ha.
been forced by allied and American
advances.
The situation was graphically ex.
planned today by General March, chief
OF staff, in midweek conference with
newspaper correspondents. For the
last two days. General March said
the employment of probably IA divis-
ions OF fresh German reserves on the
scissors jaw of the trap has come i'm
the last few days ON the eastern
jaw front. however. the enemy has
been crushed back more than ID mile
and a-half on a ten miles front. fur
ther imperiling his whole position In
the salient from which ne is endeav-
oring TO extricate his troops.
The railroad running from Sois-
sons to Chateau -Thierry Is now eth
er In our hands or under our fire."
Gen. March said. "rhc only way i'm
which the enemy can get out now or
get supplies over railroad is by
the remaining line from Nanteuil or
the Ourcq to Dazeches on the River
Vesle.
ut was necessary for him, If he did
not intend to be caught absolutely i'm
a pocket. to keep troops from adj
vpncing and cutting off this road.
which would put him entirely at the
mercy OF the allied forces"
General March did not indicate
what development the continued bat
tie along the front OF the greatly re-
duced German salient might be ex-
pected to produce. Among other Of
ficers. however. the opinion prevailed
that General Foch was rushing for
ward masses of heavy artillery which
with airplanes would pound the inter
Tor OF the German positions from three
sides. AS these officers see the sit
uation the very strength OF the Ger
man lines now established will
make his losses great from the con-
centrated fire of the allied artillery
and aircraft. The enemy forces oc-
cupy a wedge. the center of which is
less than Is miles distant from the
hard pressing lines OF the allies ut
any point. All his communication
lines are within gun range, once the
''heavies' get up behind the allied
lines.
There Is another consideration
Lacking railway lines on which to
maneuver. the enemy probably is
making desperate efforts to get his
biggest guns away safely. The at
lacking lines are backed by circling
railways on which long range weap-
ons on railway mounts can be shuttled
back and forth at will. IL is recalled
that the German attack on Chateau
Thierry little moro than week ago
was accompanied by the fire OF big
naval guns. shells from which fell ten
and 10 miles behind the lines
The bitterness of the battle around
Chateau-Thierry and along that
portion OF the north bank OF the
Marne where the enemy still retains Il
footing probably is largely due to his
determination to stave off Franco
American attacks from the south at
least until the big weapons have been
/. dragged back to safety.
The American advance reported
through Chatelet forest and to the
northeast OF Epleds Is beginning to
menance seriously enemy positions
further eastward OH the Marne
which are covering his withdrawal
within the salient
IL has been estimated that the Ger
mans now have as many as half Il
million men i'm the limited salient
they still hold. About 40 divisions are
understood TO have been identified
there. The irrcgularly shaped peck
n Is about 30 miles broad at its bass
between scissors and Rheims. whil'
It's greatest depth is around 20 miles
Obviously. II is said, the enemy l.
badly cramped for space i'm which tC
handle this huge army.
Should the final rail connection
northward come under direct gunflre
u is regarded as possible by man!
officers that veritable rout would re
suit as the massed forces of the enc
my could not all be gotten away.