The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
BATTLE CFISIS NEAR.
SECOND PHASE OF OFFENSIVE
CLOSELY WATCHED.
America Getting in and War Depart
ment Busy With Plans to Speed
Troop Movements and Call More
Men.

Washington, April 5@Develop-
ments of the second phase of the Ger
man offensive in Picardy was watch
cd closely here today. army officers
apparently feeling that the critical
point of tho great struggle is rapidly
approaching. Mea9re official reports
gave little information on which to
base definite opinions as to the trend
Of the fighting. though it seemed evil
dent that the Germans were trying
to force a tooth in strategic posi-
tiOns before Amiens, and at the same
time to increase pressure against the
junction point between the French
and British armies
Under the new policy laid down by
Secretary Baker the war department
again had nothing to add to official re-
ports from London and Paris on the
battle. Strict silence on all matters
relating to the program of the battle
or the participation of American
troops in the fighting was maintained.
The department. is forging ahead
with its efforts to speed additional
American forces across the water to
back up the beIeaguered lines. One
element of the speeding up plans was
learned authorta lively. The first incre-
ment of the second draft, to be sum-
moned this month, will be 10000
men instead of $4,000 as previously
planned. They will be the first con-
siderable force nlobilized of the S0O,-
! 600 drafted men to be called to the
cclors this year. The remaining 650,-
900 will be called out in monthly in
crements.
There are Indications that troop
movements towards the Seaboard Of
unusual proportions are already in
progress Railway passenger and
freight schedules i'm some sections of
the country have been set aside tenn
porarily in order to give the fighting
l'na0a~vsishk ksf&T us.ssssa4aanhesDnGisu
points,
The Call for American man power
is being answered promptly and to
the fullest extent of shipping facili-
ties that can be spared.
Movement of American troops al
ready in France is screened COM
pletely behind che rigid censorship
imposed by General Pershing. Press
dispatches give no hint of the where
abouts of the forces last reported as
Fastening through France to the front.
Accounts of American movements in
England have indicated that the most
seasoned veterans of General Per-
shing's army, tie men of the first ex-
pedition ARE included in the units sent
INTO the battle in Picardy. The mes
sage specified that American regulars
were to bear the brunt of the first en-
try of the crusaders from the new
world into the center of the convulsion
that is shaking the old world 10 /.
With the increased menace against
Amiens, officers recalled hopefully the
calm confidence. with which General
Foch, supreme commander, has as
serted that the town will not fall into
German hands.
They visualized reserve forces of
great strength nassed behind the ac-
tual fighting lines, Or the. possibility
that a counter-movement will be ini-
uated ii the pressure becomes danger
Gus. SO far, it is said, the allies have
not been compelled to resort to use
OF their reserves to meet the German
efforts
The endurance Of the Germans in
this second stage is being watched
closely The French have noted that
seven out of Is divisions hurled
against their lines last night and to-
DAY were newcomers to the fighting.
This means that the lull which pre-
ceded this second storm was occupied
by the Germans n replacing wornout
UNITS and rushing up from far i'm the
rear men who had been held there for
just this emerge cy.