The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-26

Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881
ANOTHER BRIVE soon.
EVERY INDICATION OF COM
ING BLOW SEEN.


ING BLOW SEEN.
Billiards. Second Army Sure to Play
Big Part in Future Operations.
Washington, Oct 22.--Now that the
Germans have been cleared out OF
Belgian Flanders and much Of north
ern France, army officials here are
watching the battle front intently,
many Of them with distinct feeling
that a. new storm of attack may be
about to break against the enemy.
There was nothing tonight to 1ndl-
cate that this expectancy was found
ed on definite information and IT.
p1 cbably grows out of a number OF
happenings Of a minor character IN
themselves but possibly important
links in chain of events soon to be-
disclosed.
Beyond doubt the German re1::e-
ment. in Belgium has slowed down
However it is not vet clear whether
this is due to The fact that the re-;
rcating forces are nearing on the
whole northern front the line which
frequently has been selected by mill
tary critics as the first pauslng place
on the way to the Meuse or the Dor
der, or to the necessities of extending
allied communication lines the troops
advance. It is probable, officers say,
that there is necessity for breath
ing spell on both sides.
There is little doubt here that the
L.
German army is headed for nothlng
short of the 'Meuse line and that any
pause will be but temporary to permit
read iustment of the columns and sup
ply line in order that the same Or
Gerly .uence of movements shali
characterize subsequent Cetirements-
Several halts of this character may
be expected, it was said, as the with
drawal project is carried out. The TACT
that the allied armies are hampered
by extending communication lines
gives opportunity for such halts before
Marshal Foch's forces can come up IN
sufficient force tc compel resump-
ton of the rearward movement.
The line surrendered by the enemy
from Lille northward to the coast, 1t
was pointed out, was far stronger and
no longer than that he now stands
upon in Belgium: In addition by the
evacuation Of Flanders coast he has
furnished the allies with means OF
setting UP new and more direct COM
munication lines from Englnad via
.Ostend, Zeebrugge or other Flanders
ports Without question, it is said
these avenues of supplying tt ad-
vancing armies already are being
opened to free the longer lines back
into France Of that burden and con-
sequently officers can not see any
tactical advantage gained by the enc
my unless he intends to fall back at
least to the line Of the Meuse.
The first stage Of the great retreat
is almost complete The German right
flank has been swung back like q
gate all the way from Selesmes south
Of Valenciennes to the Dutch border.
South Of the pivot, however, there
Has been little change on the front
from the Disc to the Meuse. It has
Been noted that heavy concentration
0f forces was made by the Germans
on the LIE Cateau- Oise-Serre front,
and also against the American pres
sure northwest Of Verdun. Without
question the retention of these lines
unbroken was vital to the German
plan of action Now that the with
drawal in the north has progressed SO
fully, however, it would cause no sur
prise here if retirement between
the Disc and the Serre were under
taken without delay to rectify the
whole line.
| To many officers it seems possible
! that now events have so shaped the
(, line that a great drive may be under
taken calculated to upset the whole
German plan of retirement.
Already the allied lines have been
!; shortened so that considerable forces
must be available for the work par
ticularly British The time can not
! be far away also when the Ameri-
can second army under General Bui-
lard viii be put into play.
| To some observers it seems pos
sitle kat wide attack may be made
by the two American armies. both
east and west OF the Meuse, tbs
thrust being aimed at the great rail
artery passing through Sedan and
Montmedy. A cooperating French
assault west of the Argonne would
naturally be a part of sub a thrust.
To other officers, however. recent
French raiding operations in Alsace
seem to have significance. Apparent
" information is desired as to the
German strength on thatfront and as
to the character and quality Of the
troops here. Such raids invariably
.precede offensive operati.ass al
though they rarely disclose by their
locality the exact place Of the pro-
posal attack.
So far as the German peace over
lures are concerned, army offic
hold that n.anifestly now is the time
Of times for new and crushing
hlow- With the hope of early peace
being dangled before the eyes of the
xve.y- frnorr