The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-04
EXPECT LONG STRUGGLE.
CRITICS BELIEVE If YPRES
SHOCID FALL GENERAL RE-
TREAT IS NOT LIKELY.
IL Huns Take Apex OF Salient Ground
Behind Will be as Bitterly Contest
cd.

is regarded by officials here CONVEX
SAINT with reports from American OBJ
servers in France as Only an incident
of the German drive. They do. not
foresee. 1t was learned tonight. any
extensive retirement of the British
lines I'm this region EVEN If the enemy
gains this shattered village standing
at the apex of the salient in the AL
lied lines in Flanders.
Ypres is important because of the
high ground about it. But If it is lost,
1t Is believed here, every inch Of
ground behind it will be as bitterly
contested by the British and French
troops as has each step forward the
enemy has made for the last ten days.
For even the whole Ypres salient, Of
ficers here think, has no strategic
value. which justifies the assumption
that its loss might force a general
retreat over a wide front. Should the
| rate of advance they have made for
| the last two weeks be maintained by
| the Germans. 1t is estimated that it
would take weeks for them to reach
positions which seriously threatened
the Allied hold on the channel ports.
Meanwhile the strain of continuous
offensive operations will increase
steadily upon the German forces while
1t decreases correspondingly on the
Allies with shortened communication
| lines to maintain.
For this reason many observers here
believe the present situation with the
Germans steadily pounding and the
Allies striking back wherever oppor-
tunity offers. may continue for some-
time. Unofficial reports from France
indicated three weeks as the time that
might elapse before the Allies could
regain the initiative.
Official announcement that Ameri-
can troops are in the trenches in the
Amiens region was welcomed by Of
ticials here.
The only statement as to ground
occupied by the American forces is
that 1t is east of Amiens. Since unof-
fetal dispatches describe the sector
as not directly involved in the pres
ent fighting at Hangard and Villiers-
Bretonneux. however. it is assumed
that the new corners have been plac-
ed somewhere along the line to the
southeast Of Hangard. toward Noyon.
II so. officers believe that the Amer
can units may share in the ultimate
triumph Of the Allied armies direct
!y as 1t is from this flank of the
Picardy battlefield that it has always
been anticipated any great counter
movement would be launched.
The number Of American troops in
this part of the line and their or
sanization mas not been revealed, but
he presence Of American artillery in
dicatos tactical units Of considerable
size.
The increased army program. neces-
Stated by the German drive, it is
learned probably will be laid before
Congress by Secretary Baker within
the next few days. The whole question.
OF available equipment, quarters and
transport tonnage has been reviewed
recently in preparation for submitting
these figures.
There are some indications that
efforts will be made to add a million
men to the army at the earliest DOS
sible time. supplementing the million
and a-half already with the colors and
the 100000 previously scheduled to
be mobilized tins year. The result
would be the necessity of providing
now funds for a force of more than
5000, 900.
III large increase i'm the number of
divisions organized or in process o:
organization is planned, it will be
| necessary to secure an amendment tt
the selective service act removing the
present restriction of the draft to two
units or 100000 men each. While the
act places no limit upon the raising O.,
replacement troops as may be neces
sary officials hold that no legal righ,
exists for the organization of addi-
tional line units.
TROUBLE WITH TELEGRAPHERS.