Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-08-26
HOW ENEMY WON
At ST. QUENTIN
ACTING BROADER GENERAL
HELD BEHIND GERMAN LINE
SAYS MIST DEFEATED BRITISH
FIFTH ARMY.


let the Germans through toward Ami
ems. For time the facts were some
what obscure. Much new material has
been collected, and the authorities are
now able fairly accurately to recon-
struct its opening stages. One of the
most valuable stories is that supplied
by a colonel, acting brigadier, who
was temporarily taken prisoner and
had the unique experience of watch
ing the German advance from the Ger
man side for period OF more than six
hours.
General Cough, who was in COM
mand of the Fifth army, was relieved
of this command as an unsuccessful
general, but subsequent information
about the battle does not show that
any specific charges can be brought
against him.
From the facts now known 1t is as
tonishing, not that the Fifth army
failed to hold the Germans, but that
they were able to resist as they did.
The men fought like lions. Rear
SudElS tlbu Nlitlt lllGS SiopO w saw
the rest of their comrades, and the
retreat this army accomplished has
been described as a miracle"
Line Held Lightly in Men.
For reasons which are not disclosed
the line of the Fifth army was lightly
held in men, but strongly in every
artifice of modern defense, 1t was the
mechanical part of the defense which
failed or, rather, was neutralized at
the crucial moment.
If is not possible to go into very
great detail, but the most serious OF
the minor breaks which occurred and
the one which developed into the most
menacing, was that in the neighbor-
hood of st. Quentin. 1t was through
this principally that the German forces
poured: A few divisions of local re-
serves We're thrown in, but these were
soon Inopped up in the fighting with
superior German forces.
In the reports of the battle it will
he noted that the reserves came to the
rescue of the retreating Fifth army.
This was not a chance happening de-
Cided upon after the battle began. The
battle dispositions o. the allied armies
provided general reserves for the Fifth
army In point of fact, these re-en-
forcements were delayed In coming up,
which makes the work done and the
retreat of the Fifth army all the more
remarkable.
1t was between the break-thrOugh
by General Won Hutier at st. Quentin
and the arrival of re-enfOrcements
that the nOndescript forces of en-
gineers and laborers collected by
Brig. Gen. Sandman Carey saved the
line.
Secret Of German Success.
The secret of the German success
against the Fifth army was the ex-
traordinarily heavy mist which devel-
oped on the morning of the attack.
The British knew the attack was in
preparation, and in anticipation of 1t
had developed a most elaborate sys-
tenn of traps and cross-fire arrange
ments, which were considered sufi-
cient to shatter any advance by the
enemy.
What perhaps the British did not
know was the exact moment when the
attack would be delivered, and what
they could not foresee was the extraOr-
binary weather conditions which pre-
vailed:
The British line Of defense consisted
first Of all of a line Of outposts; in
side of this was the carefully sighted
battle zone, at the boundary of which
was the line of resistance. What hap
pened on the day of the attack was
that the Germans effected surprise
by advancing right up to the outpOsts
without being seen and by terrific
weight of numbers rushed the battle
zone in which the carefully planned
crOss-fre which was to wither up the
enemy forces could not be used to eff
feet on account Of the binding mist.
The personal story of the above
mentioned brigadier who was captured
temporarily by the Germans is prob
ably one of the most thrilling of the
war. When the brigadier had watch
ed for some time in admiration, as he
admits, the silent clockwOrk advance
of the Germans he began to consider
what pity it was at such a crisis
that an able-bodled man should remain
in forced idleness.
He was being marched eff by
couple Of medium-sized Germans,
whom he banged on the head at a
propitious moment. They and 9TH
ers were up and after him in a mo-
ment But he decided to make dash
for liberty. His eye at that moment
lit upon a blazing dump which he
made for, knowing the Germans would
not dare TO follow.
BY good luck the dump did not ex-
plOde while he was near, and he sub
sequently found his way back to his
own lines.