The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-01
QUESTION OF MEN.
SIDE WITH MOST RESERVES
WILL WIN WAR.
War Test OF Endurance-British
Chief Director Talks of Fighting in
France-Gei1nan Success Tactical
Thus Far.


gagged in the war getting every pos
sible man into position to support the
battle front was emphasized by Gen
Delma Radcliffe. chief director of mil
itary operations at the war office, to.
day in his first interview with news-
paper men since he took over the po-
sition formerly held by Maj. Gen. i.
Ii. Maurice.
THE Germans nre going on with
this hammering process" he said,
"and we have got to make up our
minds that 1t is not this week of next
week or next month. that this fight
Is coming to a decision. We are GO
ing to fight the whole summer and in
the end II is a question of who holds
the last reserves. Reserves on the
West front now are, 1 am happy to
say. In the hands of one command,
namely. In the hands Of the COM
mander I'm chief Of the allied armies
in France. General Foch. in whom
everybody lin both armies has COM
plete confidence. He has so far em.
ployed only a small proportion Of his
reserves.
II want to emphasize the fact that
this is a long drawn out test of en-.
durance. endurance Of nations. That
is why it is so imperative for this
country and all countries to get hold
Of every man they can possibly to
support the battle front. What is 60
ing to tell in the end is men.
In summing up the battle situation,
General Radcliffe said:
"As regards few days preceding
April 23 the German activities were
devoted chiefly to the Lys sector be.
tween Givinchy and Merville. All the
details have been published, and the
net result was highly satisfactory for
as. The Germans put in a lot of
troops. suffered heavy losses and
gained absolutely nothing.
Around Givenchy particularly. the
result was very satisfactory. Some
important positions changed hands
and were finally left in our possession
Further northeast Of Robecq we
gained quite little ground and took
considerable number Of prisoners
All of 1t was good. The balance Of
losses and wear and tear were decid-
edly against the Germans and that IL
what we want.
"On the morning of April "a the
enemy began more serious effort
opposite AmiensI and yesterday he
started a heavy attack on the Kem-
mel front. The enemy had made
considerable progress. The latest in
formation Is still incomplete but there
Is no doubt that the Germans sue
ceeded in occupying KENNEL hill. The
net result in the KENNEL sector so far
Is that the Germans have gained
about 1000 yards on a front of about
l.200 yards. The gain is not large
but involves very important ground
and there is no question but that 1t
Is very serious loss.
There Is nothing decisive about
the loss of KENNEL hill, but it is Il
most important tactical feature. 1t Is
an observation point for all ground
to the north but 1t remains to be seen
whether II will remain in the enemy's
hands. Our line to the north Is all
right.
The situation around KENNEL hill
Is not yet cleared up and we shall
have more information this evening.
"On the south the situation at
Villers- Bretonneux is very satisfac-
tory. We have taken back all we
lost and with the village we have TAX
EN- many prisoners and inflicted heavy
losses.
Looking at these attacks we see
one thing. In each case the enemy
has struck at the junction OF the
French and British armies. AS you
know. that must always be a weak
spot. With the best possible arrange
ments and with the best understand
ing IL must always be difficult to ar
range for immediate support when
TWO different commands are involved.
Ihese diiiiculties naturally are in
creased when you have two nation
alities and although we and the
French have been fighting alongside
each other for three and One-half
years and have absolute confidence i'm
each other, yet We must always expect
The Germans tO try IN find n ioipt In,