Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-03

against first one point and then
another looking for q place to break
through.
The hardest fighting has been at
Noyon on the southern end OF the bat
tie front, at Hangard opposite Am
lens. AT Arras in the centre and in
the vicinity Of Ypres. up in Belgium.
When the big offensive commenced
late in March the British were defend
ing the line from Arras TO the north
and the French were taking care OF
th,. lines TO the south. The Germans
began by directing their attacks first
against the point where the British
and French lines came together and
then alternately against the BRUSH
and the French, hoping to find some
where weak place 1T which they
could break through.
The earlier efforts OF the Aiermans
were crowned with considerable sue
cess, not TO the extent OF breaking
through; but in the way of driving
back both the British and French over
long fronts. After week or two OF
these operations il became apparent
that the Germans were too strong for
either the British or French under
separate commands, and then it was
that Gen. Foch was made commander
in-chief Of all the allied forces. this
new situation being ushered in when
Gen. Pershing turned over to the
French general all the American
forces at his command to be used as
the Frenchman saw proper. Inc
British followed the American lead.
With the constitution of Gen. Foch
as commander in chief OF the allied
forces. the fortunes Of the allies be-
gan TO improve-not instantly but
gradually. This was because the
French general was able to back up
British, French and Americans. when
ever they needed backing up. by using
any one of the allied forces to REIN
force the other.
The Germans have the advantage
in numbers and also In artillery as
well as in munitions probably, al
though the allies have made no COM
plaint on that score. The allies have
some advantage in being on the de-
fensive, especially as long as they are
able to meet the attacks OF the enc
my with adequate defending forces,
and the Germans are not able TO dis-
cover and attack weak places in their
lines.
In all the earlier attacks, the Ger
mans made considerable Roadway
against the allies and 10 that extent
were very much encouraged, notwith-
standing that every gain was made
at the expense OF terrific cost in blood.
But within the past few days. especi-
ally since the taking OF Mont kem-
mel by the Germans. 1t has begun TO
appear that the Germans have about
all they can handle and Il little more.
The Germans believed. and the al
lies feared, that the taking of Mont
KENNEL would virtually put an end to
further resistance In the direction OF
the coast. But 1t seems that when the
Germans undertook to follow up their
advantage a few days ago. Gen. Foch
had placed in their way large force
of British and French and the advance
was checked by literally carpeting the
earth with German dead.
II is known that the losses of the
Germans during the past week have
been terrific. Some estimates place
these losses as high as half a million.
and none of the more conservative
figures are lower than 350.000: but
whatever the German losses, 1t is GER
tain that the Germans have lost much
of their dash and enthusiasm, and al
though no one thinks that the end is
yet in sight, the spirits Of the allies
are beginning to rise.
The allies have been greatly
strengthened during the past week, not
only by the arrival of American troops
opposite Amiens; but by the arrival OF
Iadd1trUfIaI french and British troops
from the training camps. and al
though the Germans have brought
forward additional troops in large
numbers, the comparative strength OF
the opposing armies Is now thought to
he more in favor of the allies than II
was at the beginning OF this last big
offensive.
But the end is not yet. There is
no reason to hope that the end is even
near. The Germans are not nearly
ready to quit. They will not quit un-
til the situation becomes absolutely
hopeless, and they have not reached
that point yet. There will be lot
more terrific fighting before the thing
Is decided.
1t seems quite possible. however
that if the Germans fail here. the
great war will soon be on the way to
final settlement