The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-01
NUN DRIVE CHECKED.
FRENCH HOLD GROUND BACK OF
..tu SOISSONS.
Allies Resist Enemy's Attacks Stub
bornly. Giving Ground Only When
ovcrpowered ind Always Maintain
ing Solid Front-Foch Bringing Re.
serve Forces Into Action.
BY The Associated Press.


Slowly. but surely, the plunge of
the German Crown Princes armies IL
being halted by the French and Brit
jsh armies. While the momentum OF
the German masses has not as yet
spent itself. there has been a notable
slackening I'm its advance during the
past day. The chief efforts Of the
Germans now seem to be devoted to
the widening of the gap they have
torn In the positions of the allies be-
tween Pinon and Brimont. This work
seems to be progressing slowly
against the desperate resistance of
the allied forces.
The French having fallen back
from the limits OF the city OF Sois-
sons. have stood their ground against
the attacks OF the enemy and the Ger
man official statement fails to show
material advances there during the
days nghting.
On the Eastern end OF the fighting
line some OF the forts before Rheims
are said To have fallen. which was to
be expected from the fact that they
have been outflanlSed by the tide OF
invasion that has swept far to the
south OF the city.
The lighting has taken on the as
pect OF the first invasion of France In
1914. the advance OF Won Mackensen
along the Dunajec and tho lighting I'm
Picardy In March. After breaking the
French and British defensive posi-
tions. but not breaking the all ed line,
the Germans are again moving their
forces out In fan-shaped ngurs. fight
Ing hardest on the TANKS OF the ex-
treme front of their advance.
The situation while apparently ex-
trsmely serious has not assumed the
critical aspect Of the fgh;ing late In
March. The allies are resisting the
enemy's attacks stubbornly, giving
ground when overpowered. and al
ways maintaining solid front.
The wave OF the advance Is now
approaching the valley of the Marne.
the nearest approach TO that avenue
toward Paris being at the village of
Vsziily which lies ut the extreme apex
or tho German wedge and Is about
seven miles from the river. In 1914
the Germans advanced over front
extending from Braine just off Sois-
son to vauquois. a little west of Yer
dun. After having reached the Marne.
the Teutons turned the force OF their
advance towards the west and they
may be expected to repeat their tao
tics Of four years ago.
The reserve forces of the COM
rnand of General Foch arc now COM
ing into action on ground chosen for
the combat by that master stategist
and II Is possible that bolw of tre-
msndous proportions may be struck
somewhere along the front OF the
German wave. or on its western side.
which seems to be open To an attack
which might orumple up the Ger
man armies to the east OF Scissors
The Americans who captured Can
tRny have beaten of attack after at
tack by the Germans. Large German
forces are said to have gathered to
retake the village. and they have
launched savage assaults at the
Americans. but the latter, with rifle
and machine gunfire have moved
down the advancing Teuons. Along
the American held positions in the
Toul and Lunevllle sector there have
been several spirited engagements.
hut nowhere have the Germans sue
cseded I'm penetrating the Aenrican
lines.
The allied position In the Flanders
sector have been subjected to bom-
sardments but the only infantry fight
mg there has been initiated ny the
French near Dickebusch Lake. south
OF Yprcs who improved their po-
sitIons as the result OF an attack on
the Germans.
The lighting on the Italian from
has mo- been of an unusual character.