The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-23
ALLIES DRIVE HUNS.
ANGLo-BELGIAN ARMIES FORCE
GERMANS TO RETIRE To-
WARD GHENT.
Success Apparently Means Turning of
VaIcnciennes Line and Endangers
German Forces Northward to flan-
ders and Southwark to Disc Canal,
Necessitating Retreat.

and reached Vichite, lying northeast
Of Courtrai and are still pushing on
rapidly.
The Anglo-Belgians are also north
east Of Deerlyck, Spruete and Stratte.
The Third army in its attack. had
captured by early afternon nearly l.
900 prisoners.
While the Belgians, French and
British were driving the Germans
rapidly to the east in the direction OF
Ghent, which is being approached
both from the west and the southwest,
the British Third army attacking at
2 o'clock this morning smashed its
way eastward to the south Of Valen-
ciennes. The success of this opera
ton, which this evening seems as
sured, means the turning Of the Valen-
ciennes line and endangers all the
German forces northward to Flan-
ders and southwark to the Oise canal
behind which the Germans have be-
gun to retreat from other British
forces and the Americans.
This thrust will serve to upset the
known German plan of trying to hold
the line east OF Scheldt to which the
enemy is hastily retiring from what
once was the Lille salient.
Reports from the battle line in
Fla, ders indicate that Ghent will soon
be recovered.
Already the allied guns are ham,
mering the Germans on I'll sides;
cyclist and cavalry patrols are sweep
ing ahead in front of the infantry,
drawing closer and closer.
The Germans were driven out of the
northwest coast in Flanders much
sooner than they expected, for cap
tured orders show that they intended
to hold the line of ZeeorugGe-Br
Theilt, but were unable to resi- the
terrific allies pressure. Thousa. Is OF
civilians have been liberated by the
Belgians and French and masses Of
booty, which the Germans had no
! time to carry away, fell into their
hands.
1t is considered quite possible that
the Germans will try to make several
successive stands in Belgium and one
line Of resistance undoubtedly will
comprise Antewrp, Brussels and Ma
ntlr, On which much work is being
done At the same time it is worth
noting that the Germans are laboring
franticall, in the preparation of de-
fensive line on their own frontier, es-
pec;ally in the reighborhood Of Alx-la
Chapelle and Eiege.
The operation o. the Third Army
was characterized by most severe
fighting for the Germans realized the
! importance Of trying to delay the Brit
ish there. Regardless Of the enemy
resistance, however, the British gain
ed the high ground to the east OF
| the line from which they were ad-
vancing against a perfect storm of
machine gun bullets fired from ad-
vantageous positions. The machine
guns were cleared out with great
rapidity and great numbers of Ger
mans were killed. The fighting was
/! especially fierce in the neighborhood
of ST. Python, where many barri-
cades had been hastily erected.
/ South of LIE .Cateau the British and
americans are continuing their sue
cesses of the past two days. American
patrols, pushing out from the Mazing-
!. the Disc canal.
The German artillery in this region
has been quite active and many towns,
including Bazuel, have been heavily
shelled. There were civilians in some
/. of those towns, SO that their SPEEDY
removal was necessary, the Germans
disregarding their presence entirely.
North of Courtrai the British Sec
ond Army is across the Lys River at
several places and making good pro-
gress while the First Army has
crossed the Selle River near Haspres
and Saulzoir, and continued driving
the enemy.
From in front of Denain this army
, is pushing on frontally for Valen-
ciennes, a movement which is in CO.
! operation with the Third Army's at
tack southwark.
Obviously the Germans intended to
defend the east bank of the Scheldt,
for they trenched and wired it. But
there are strong indications that the
enemy has little faith in his ability to
hold the line loEg, for all the bridges
, are ready for speedy demolition. A
few fires are still visible at Tournai
and the surrounding country. show
ing that the enemy is burning his
stores. The Germans are also strip
ping the country Of everything mag
Unable and are burning what tbS
have been unable to remove
Cattle taken from the peasants are
being driven eastward and the farm
ers' haystacks have been burned.
In Turcoing. where there were
thousands Of civilians. scenes occur
red similar to those at Lille, the cit
liens exhibiting intense JOY at their
liberation.
The Germans are plainly showing
their intentions by removing and de-
stroying machinery of cotton mills
and similar industrial works; they ap-
parently have the idea of sitting
French competition in the future. Ii
the looting of private houses they