The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-04-11
Great German Drive Slowed Up
and Allied Counter Thrust
Seems at Hand.
AM|ENS the HUNS 0BJECTlVE
British Speedily Check Diversion At
tack on Arraa-French StubbornIy
Hold Line on Oise-Americans
Acquit Themselves Well-Uk-
ranians and BoIsheviki Re-
capture Odessa.
By EDWARD w. PlCkARD.


Another week of the hoodicst kind
Of fighting failed to bring to the Ger
mans the real victory on which they
had so confidently counted. for though
the British and French armies had
hccn forced to yicld further territory.
their lines were unhrokcn and their
spirits undHunt"d. AS the German mil
itary authorities. General Ardrnnc,
says, it is not The capture of territory
that can bring Il decision, but only Il
victory over ana through the shattcr-
ing of the cncmy's armies. So far from
being shattered. the allied forces.
weary and battered rs they arc, are
full of confidence and ms this IS writ
ten are but awaiting the opportunc
moment to strike back with the big
army Of mancuvcr which was placed
ut the disposal of the supreme war
council.
Amiens. most important link in
the British line Of communications.
appeared to be the real objective Of
the Germans, and they were able dur
ing the week 60 push forward toward
that city. along the lire Of the Sommc,
lul iS Ilulntl, anu llltic
north they took Albert and were hold
ing 1t against fierce counterattacks by
tho British. To the south they had
pushed a salient forward little be-
yond Montdidicr, but there the French
came hack ut them with such elan that
they were checked and lost several
commanding positions. East Of this
sector the French troops held stub
bornly to their lines along the Disc and
on Thursday attacked daShingly south
of Noyon and drove the enemy back
two miles at the point Of the bayonet.
1t was along this east and west base
OF the German salient that the allied
world expected the great counter
thrust Of the army Of mnneuver to he
made. Any considerable advance to
the north there 1t was pointed out,
would force the Germans to draw back
to save their lines Of communication
which already are so badly stretched
out that they have great difficulty In
bringing up artillery and food.
What looked like diversion rath-
er than serious threat was the at-
tack Of the Huns in the middle Of the
week at the northern extremity Of the
line Of battle toward Arras. There
the British, after giving some ground.
repulSed the enemy with terrible
slaughter. Presumably this thrust Mt
Arras was made to, keep the British
from sending mon and guns to the sec
tor whcrc their lines join those of
the French, but 1t was so quickly
blocked that 1t failed Of It's purpose.
Extraordinarily bold and successful
was the work Of the British and
French aviators. In their low-nying
battle planes they few in swnrms con
tinuously over the battlchclds and back
OF the German lines. playing havoc
With the cncmy's transports and In
nicting heavy casualties In his re-
serves. Battles in the air were innu-
hut the allied airmcn main
tanned the upper hand always. The
also distinguished them
selves, sticking to their firing to the
last moment and usually saving their
guns when forced to fall back
On the whole, the developments OF
the week were such ns to restore con
fidcnce among the allies, for though
the situation was still critical 1t seem
cd that Premier Clemenceau was right
when he said that whatever might hap
pen In the next few days, the enemy
could not win the path to the sea nor
the path to Paris
Ivy
Just what part the American troops
hive been playing In the Soinme battle