The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-27
BAKERS WAR REVIEW.
SECRETARY PLEASED WITH CON
DUCT OF AMERICANS.
Forces Engaged I'm One of Most Ac.
tive Sectors OH Front-British Eek.
tend Lines.

Washington, Feb. 24.-Increasingly
important activity by the Americans
on the Western front and the return
for rest at q leave station Of the men
who have completed their first period
OF duty in the trenches are noted in
this weeks review of military opera
tons by the war department.
In the news of the renewed Ger
man offensive against the Russians,
the most important development OF
the week, the department finds no
cause for surprise, but adds nothing to
information carried in press dis
patches. The review was written be-
fore the announcement came from
London that the Bolsheviki had ac-
cepted Germany's peace terms.
Hitherto. little opposition has been
offered to the advancing Germans"
the department says. "and it is not as
yet clear what preparations the Rus
slams are making to meet the enemy.
Owing to the disorganization OF the
Russian forces. it is difficult to pre-
sage what effective opposition they
may be able to place in the path OF
the invaders"
OF the Western front the review
says:
While no major undertakings
were recorded i'm the West. yet the en-
tire front was the scene Of hard driv-
en- assaults OF minor character.
"our own forces are taking an in
creasingly important part in the op-
erations. Last week we recorded the
participation Of our artillery in the
very successful thrust made by the
French in the region of the Butte du
Mesnil. This week the presence of our
infantry in "a very important area OF
the Chemin des Danes is reported
Here our patrols have been outside
our barhed wire and have undertaken
n number of scouting expeditions in
No Mans Land which were success
fully carried through.
"At the time our detachments were
coming up into the trenches they were
under heavy hostile shell fire; never
theiess. our men made their way to
their stations without confusion Or
casualties. 1t is useful TO note thai
our forces now in action in this one
OF the most active sectors OF the en-
TIRE French front, have acquitted
themselves very creditably.
During the week General Pershinc
made a personal inspection Of the
American sector northwest of Toul
our men who have completed
thelr first period of duty in the
trenches have arrived ut the leave
center established at AK les Bains
This is the first of series OF rest CEN
ters it is proposed to establish wher,
our men can find rest and recreation
after the trying ordeal of trench,
duty.
Along the French front the enemv
reacted encrgeticalIy in the region
southwest of the Butte du MesniI. AZ.
ter sanguinary encounter the Ger
mans succeeded in regainlng part o.
;he trenches lost last week. A fur
ther attempt, in which three German
battalions participated. was repulsed.
I'm third assault the Germans took
l25 prisoners, but tho French forces
rega'ned the lost positions after n
spirited counterattack. Our artillery
participated i'm these operations.
Artillery duels took place alonp
the entire front. A decided increase
IN the intensity OF bombardments was
noted. The British have taken over
an additional segment OF the French
line. The transfer OF an appreciable
mileage of the front below ST. Ouen
TN was made to the British without
difficulty or delay"