The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-27
eElMlNs N PERIL.
COSsAfANDERS MAKING DEsPER.
ATE EFFORTS TO SAVE
THEIR ARMIES.
Trying 20 Hold Open Base OF Salient
Between soissons and Rheims Until
Troopa Can be Withdrawn From
Center Of Marne Pocket-Many
Men and Gums Lost.

desperate efforts to hold open the base
OF the salient between scissors and
Rheims until troops far down the CEN
ter Of the great pocket toward the
Marne can be Withdrawn. With
French and American troops ham,
merine away from. the west and
French. British and Italian forces
battering at the east flank of the Ger
man position. II was still far from
certain tonight that the enemy would
be able to get his forces out OF the
southern end OF the salient without
terrific loss.
Already great numbers of prisoners
and guns have been taken by Ameri-
san and allied forces The only esti-
mate from official sources covering
the aggregate captures by French,
American and Italian troops during
the first two days Of the counter Of
fsnsive. gave 10000 as the probable
total. There are indications that the
number captured on Sunday might be
greater although enemy Withdrawals
from the Marne and Chateau -Thierry
sectors probably accounted In some
part for the swiftness OF the ad-
vancss during that day.
The situation on the TANKS of the
sAlisnt was not 20 clear tonight, al
though Il was plain that on both
sides the effort to pinch the enemy
retirement was making progress
Heavy artillery fire and airplane
bombs are raining over all his COM
munication lines In the center of the
salient over which the retiring divis-
Ions must make their escape.
Apparently the enemy Is fghting
hard to hold his position around
Qulchy-le- Chateau. where a railway
hns from Fismes. probably his chief
advance base and located at the ap-
proximate center OF the basa line OF
the salient between Scissors and
Rheims has permitted him to assem-
BILE considerable forces to resist the
Franco-American advance. Should
the counterattack succeed In forcing
this position or in breaking through
either to the north or south of Oulchy,
however. II is indicated that the Ger
man defeat might be turned into a
disastrous rout.
Similarly II the Franco British -Ital-
isa forces. as officials here hope, are
able to break through strong enemy
concentration towards Fismes itsclf
disaster would threaten the whole
German position south of that place.
As TO the position OF the American
forces. Secretary Baker had this to
say:
The general effect OF the news Of
last nigh; and this morning is to
show We substantial gains OF terri
tory. both In the Chateau -Thierry sa-
bcnt nnd further east. The exact To-
cation OF the line changes from time
10 time. but for two days has changed
favorabiy with every change.
There has been no recent substan.
tiai addition to the number OF prison
s's and no exact estimate of war ma
teriai captured but II seems quite
clear that large quantities OF war ma
teriai have been taken. AS opera
tons are still very active we can not
look for definite details.
II have had estimations. of course.
an to the number Of prisoners. I have
had officiai estimates of 20. 900 prls-
oners.
The Inference drawn this morning
OF $1,000 prisoners and $50 guns rs
captured by Americans were an erro-
neous inference from the American
dispatch. I think General Pershinx
meant that the allies rather than the
American forces had captured that
number OF prisoners
We have nothing official on our
losses of any kind.
The railroad line Is certainly brok-
en- from Scissors to Chateau-T -Thierry.
This deprives the Germans or their
main reliance In the matter OF sup
plies.
IL appeared increasingly evident To-
night that the Germans have hurried
large forces OF reserves both from the
north and south TO keep open the sa.
hent which may prove death trap
TO large section OF their army. 1t Is
noticeable. however. that General
Foch apparently has been quite satis
ned to post his forces on the heights
overlooking Scissors and has not at.
tempted very seriously ~ at all TO