The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-01
HUNS ADVANCE EIGHT MILES.
ALLIES GIVE GROUND IN SOUTH
BUT LINE HOLDS AND RE-
SERVES ARE COMING.
Germans Claim Capture of Many
Towns and $4,000 Prisoners, But
Later Reports Favor the Allies
Americans Take Cantigny in Bril-
liant Assault-Italians Make Gains.
BY Associated Press.

The great German military ma
chine is in full motion along the
twenty mile front in the Aisne river
sector between Vailly and Berry -au-
Bac. and greatly outnumbered, the
British and French are giving
ground.
According to the German official
communication numerous towns and
villages in the fighting zone have been
taken by the enemy and 5000 AL
lied troops already have been made
prisoner
At the last accounts the Germans
were endeavoring to press back the
defenders upon the Vesle river,
which runs parallel with the Aisne
and at several points had reached po-
sitions dominating the Vesle valley.
The offensive is being carried out with
the greatest rapidity, for the German
high command evidently is we'll aware
have been reported to be coming up
rapidly to reinforce the hard press
ed British and French. who are fight
ing valiantly against the terrible
odds. and making wave upon wave of
the enemy pay dearly in casualties
for every foot Of ground they obtain
Notwithstanding the rapidity Of the
drive and the large number of the
enemy pressing it--some unofficial re-
ports place the number of shock
troops alone ut twenty-five divisions,
or about 100000 picked men-the AL
lied front nowhere has been pierced.
but under the onslaught it has fallen
back i'm perfect liasop and all the
time giving battle.
With such precision has the retire
ment been conducted that both the
British and French troops have been
able to carry back with them all OF
their supplies and guns Or destr oy
those they were unable to handle.
At present 1t Is impossible geo.
graphically to depict the extent Of
the German gain. but it would seem
evident that the deepest salient they
have driven is in the region due east
of Vailly-about eight miles.
Although the Germans for the mo-
ment at least. seemingly are having
their own way on the southern part
of the line in France, on the sectors
around Montdidier and southwest OF
fpres they are being sorely harassed
by the Americans. British and French.
Tuesdays fighting in the vicinity of
Montdidier will mark an epoch in the
war, so far as the American troops
are concerned. Here in an attack they
captured their first village-Cantigny,
which lies short distance northwest
of Montdidier. They also took several
other objectives and held all of then,
in the face of counter attacks. The
Germans suffered severe losses in men
killed or wounded and in addition left
behind them 200 men made prisoner.
among them two officers. The Ameri-
can casualties were relatively small.
The German official report announces
the taking of American prisoners The
report from American headquarters
shows only two Americans missing.
Likewise south Of Ypres the enemy
received hard usage at the hands of
the British and French. east of Dicke-
busch lake, where Monday the Ger
mans in an attack had taken ground
Starting Immediately after the gain
was made the British and French be-
gan counter-attacks in an endeavor
to wipe out the captured salient and
Tuesday succeeded i'm completely null
lifying the enemys manoeuver.