Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-29
CRISIS OF THE WAR
Great Battle on Which the Fate OF
Nations is Hanging.


ern part OF the western front.
Anything like an accurate detailed
description OF the battle is out OF the
question. There have been columns
and columns OF Geographic news. in
cluding official reports. about the
fighting: hut most OF II has been OF a
very general nature. About all that IL
certain Is that the Germans have been
pushing steadily forward with over
whelming numbers. and the British
and French have been holding their
ground with stubborn tcnacity. selling
every yielded foot as dearly rs pos
sible. sustaining heavy losses them
selves and intiicting terrific losses on
the enemy.
II is believed that the Germans had
altogether nearly two million men on
the western front. or these. II Is
known that more than seventy d.
visions, or close TO one million men.
have been engaged during the week.
The advance was commenced over n
front OF about fifty miles. and from
the best information obtainable. il APP
pears to have penetrated about %
miles. The Germans. however have
not been able to go forward as they
started. The original plan was to
push strongly reinforced columns
against the Allies at the north and
south, and while the whole front was
advancing II was intended that these
stronger columns should drive for
ward and inward. in such way as
TO envelope and capture the British
armies in front. There have been ex-
tensive captures Of prisoners and ma
terial. but these captures have not
mans hoped or expected. The British
forces, although outnumbered some
thing like two to one. have held their
ground with traditional British stub
bornness. inflicted terrific losses on
the Germans. and beaten their wide.
spade-like front Of fifty miles down to
a comparatively thin wedge at It's
furthermost extremity.
The German official reports claim
the capture Of about $4,000 prisoners,
more than 700 guns and immense
quantities OF other supplies. including
guns, ammunition and food. That the
British losses have been heavy in men.
guns and supplies there is no uurs-
tion: hut neither Is there any uucs-
tion OF the fact that the losses they
have inflicted have been something
fearful
At no time or place In the lighting
have the opposing forces been any
thing like equal. II is related that in
the carly stages OF the battle. one
British division held its ground be-
fore wave after wave Of Germans, al
most annihilating five divisions. one
after another, and not giving away
until 1t had almost disposed of the
sixth division. And such things have
been the rule rather than the eXccp-
tion. Everywhere the British have
stood their ground most manfully.
moving down the enemy until simply
overwhelmed by numbers and then
giving back stoutly, stubbornly and in
good order.
One of the most important strategic
points in the German drive has been
the junction Of the British and French
lines. For days the Germans have
been seeking to break through here
to separate the French and British;
and crumple up the British to the
north and the French to the south |;
but owing to the heroic tenacity OF both
French and British. this junction has
not been broken.
In their official reports, the Germans
have given no definite estimates of
their losses. They have several times
paid tribute to the stubborn resistance
Of the British and French, and admit
ted temporary checks and advances at
great expense Of men: but they have
given no figures. Unofficial estimates
from Allied sources. some of them
quite high. estimate the German casu-
alties at hardly less than 100000 men,
or more than one to each three men
engaged.
The German official reports claim
that the British lines have been several
times broken: but this has not been
admitted by Gen. Haig in any OF his
official reports. According to the Brit
ish claims, all retirements have been
orderly, the retiring troops giving
back with their faces TO the enemy,
and making new stands with unbrok-
en- fronts.
II Is known that the British lines
have been considerably reinforced by
French and American troops: but as
to what extent, or where the Ameri-
cans are located, has not been given
~ L., Sal. A.4
have yet participated extensively in
the fighting; and the presumption Is
that they are to take part in counter
attacks that are now due to develop
with increasing vigor and intensity.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press with the French army relates
that during the early stages of the
advance the gunners OF a battery OF
French 75's was surrounded by the
Germans for three days. This was
near Chauny. The French were with
out food. They fought. however. until
they had fired their last round. and
then managed to escape during the
night because Of confusion among the
enemy. Men belonging to a dismount-
ed French cavalry corps fought a rear
guard action day after day. retiring
slowly and stubbornly until the ex-
hausted enemy came to a standstill.
These Frenchmen say that because Of
the density Of the enemy columns all
they had to do was to fire point blank
and hits were a matter Of certainty.
According to practically all Of the
reports, the German drive has been
temporarily checked: but the situation
Is still very grave. All OF the interior
Of that vast triangle. fifty miles across
at its base with the other lines ex-
tending twenty-five miles to it's point,
Is filled with Germans. and more are
coming to their assistance. Fighting
Is still going on all along the lines. and
In places II Is very severe. II Is un-
derstood that the British and French
have not heretofore used their main
forces to anything like the extent that
the Germans have. and that they now
have large forces for counter attacks.
These counter attacks have COM
menced: but have not fully developed.
The Allied commanders, however. pro-
fess the greatest confidence in their
ability TO drive the Germans back,
and also II Is expected that they will
take large numbers Of prisoners.
The Germans are claiming q great
victory and just now II looks like they
have won It. Berlin Is decorated with
flags and the people are celebrating
throughout the empire. Gen. Luden-
dorH Wh0 annoara m hoya hopdIod