The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-17
BIG DRIVE EXPECTED.
MOVE MAY BE MADE By AL
LIES IN FLANDERS
SHORTLY.
Chief OF Staff Points Out that Ger
mans are Not Now Within Fifty
Miles of Paris at Any Point-BlS
Army for Pershing.

Washington, Aug. IA new drive
against the German positions elther
in Flanders or between the Olse ana
Scissors is expected by many army
officers here as result OF the SLOW
ing up of the advance in the PlcardS
theater.
Outlining the situation at his MD
week conference with newspaper men
today. General March, chlef OF staIl'
confined his statements to polntln's
out that the Germans have now been
forced back until they are not Witnlh
80 miles of Paris at any point. Inc
head of the army has previously lalo
stress On the fact, however, that the
greatest advantage Won by Marsf'ti
Foch in a military way is in nav :
wrested the initiative from the enc
my.
The opinion prevailed among other
officers that the present struggle
arorad Roye and Lassigay wouio
soon terminate in the capture OF these
points. to be followed by the taklns
of Noyon. They agreed with the com :
mentators abroad that ali signs lnol-
cate the enemy intends to wlthara"
and is fighting fierce rear guard &C,
rions only to cover his retirement ana
to permit him to prepare strong
lines in his rear on which TO stana
fast.
In the course Of his discussion
General March said General Persnihs
now has 1850 American troops
organized into the first army. Pce-
s,uoaably the Americans on the br1l-
ish left flank in Picardy, identified by
the chief of staff as the One Hunofec
and Thirty-first Infantry of the
Thirty-third (Illinois National Guard
Division, are among those still osl-
Saded for training.
1t appeared possible to some o1i'-
GERS the organization OF the Flrs'
American Army might be followed ps
an all-American attack at some Po'hl
on the line which it holds beyond
yerdun, where there has been no re-
cent fighting. No reports, official OF
unofficial. have been received, now
ever, throwing any light on Genera
Pershing's plans or the part assign
ed to him by Marshal Foch In tn"
present offensive campaign.
The primary purpose OF the I'VE IVY.
h5ows Rfarsha4 F4oe1s saass is4Siaas; as
been realized. Both in the Alsne-
Marne battle and again in Picardy tne
attacks were defensive measures to
free Paris from the menace OF the
two wedges the enemy had driven III
that direction The value of the drives
in this respect was pointed out oy
General March today.
officers here therefore anticipate =
complete change in the character O.
the fighting in the next phase OF the
hattie with Foch's armies assuming
the offensive in the fullest sense OF
the word aud striking to force the
enemy back in such manner that ne
can not avail himself of this Old HIN
denburg line defenses
II appears very probable to some
observers that the Flanders from!
might Sc the next blaze kindled with
a double drive by British forces to
pinch out the salient there as it has
I en- pinched out at the Marine anu
again in Picardy. They foresee also
the intention Of movements OF great
err scope in the near future, aimed az
thanking the Germans out Of the blunt
wedge into which the Picardy anH
Aisne battlefronts have been merg2a
by recent actions.