The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-09-10

me uerlndnS nave markedly Stlf
fened their resistance against the
allied armies from the region of Ar
ras to Rheims, but their efforts to
ward off further encroachments into
the territory they are holding have
failed
All along the front the German
big guns are violently in action,
while machine guns in vast numbers
are being used in front of strategic
points which the allies are endeavor-
ing to gain. Nevertheless the Brit
ish have dug more deeply into the
sector southwest of Cambrai, cap
turing important positions on the
four mile front between the Havrin-
court wood and Pieziere, regafhing
their old srench positions dominating
Gouzeaucourt and capturing Gouze-
aucourt wood.
To the south the French are only
short distance west OF st. Quentin
and are at the gates OF LaFere. On
this last named sector the French
movement against the st. Gobain
forest. the conquest of which would
remove the greater barrier to an
allied advance in force eastward to-
ward Laon in an outfia1 ling move
ment against both tr Aisne and
Chemin Des Danes positions Of the
enemy.
Resistance Most Determined.
The Germans here and northeast
Of Scissors also are Offering most
determined resistance against the
French. realizing that should Cen
eral Mangin's strategy prove sue
cessful the entire German line east
ward to Rheims necessarily would
be compelled to undergo marked re-
adjustment. Thousands of machine
guns and guns of larger caliber are
roaring away against the French
both from the st. Gobain forest and
the plateau above the Ailette river
northeast Of Scissors.
Along the Aisne the Germans are
still endeavoring to retard the ad-
vance of the French in further cross
ings OF the stream, probably in or
der to give their main army chance
to make it's way unimpeded north
ward in case of quick rush by the
French toward Laon, a maneuver
which seems in the making by Mar
shall Foch's forces. Large numbers
of reinforcements have been rushed
up by the Germans here and also
along the Aisne front where the
Americans are fighting alongside the
French
Particular attention is being given
by the Germans - the three hinges
OF their lines-in Flanders, north
east OF scissors and around Rheims.
Would Spell Disaster.
A break through at either point
by the allies would spell disaster to
the enemy.
Therefore the German high COM
mand is buttressing them for event
ualities. In Flanders the German
strategy seems to be the obliteration
of points vulnerable to sharp as
saults. Particularly is this notice
able along the T.ys river south of
Ypres. where the Germans are re-
ported to have removed all their ar
tillery to the east side Of the river
and a little to the north around
Wytschaete where the British have
advanced their line nearly mile.
and apparently with slight opposi-
ton.
Concentrating Artillery.
The concentration OF artillery of
all calibers. including machine guns.
and large bodies Of men in the re-
giOn of Scissors. where every nook
and Granny of the rolling country
contains hordes of defenders, proves
the Importance the enemy places In
holding this territory. while nothing
is being left undone in the. region
around Rheims to strengthen in gun
and manpower the German line
against the assaults the Germans
apparently realize are soon to come
After virtually two months OF
hard fighting I'm which from ARA :
to the Marne the Germans ever.
where have been worsted Genera
Foch he's eiyen no outward indica-
tion that he IL to permit the Ge,
mans breathing spell. The create
Nort'on OF the German defensive sys-
tenn in the battle zore already has
teen demolished. or is in the pro-
cess OF demolition or OF being made
untenable. Less than 80 miles OF
~ y.