The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-20
ALLIES STRIKE BACK.
HUN ADVANCE BLOCKED AND
GROUND RECLAIMED.
Americans Capture Two Towns and
Recover Another Village and Hill
I'm Cooperation With French Forces.

The German offensive east and west
OF Rheims has had the brakes saw
agely applied TO II by the strong re-
sls,ance OF the American, French and
Italian armies. Nowhere has the ene-
my found II possible as In days gone
by. to press forward and tear his way
through opposing positions to points
OF vantage chosen as early detectives.
True. some gains have been made
by the Germans. but they are infinites-
sinai when compared with those of
other attacks. Instead OF in miles
they may be reckoned almost In yards
And from some OF the positions cap
tured the enemy has been elected
summarily under vicious counterat-
tacks delivered by the American
troops fghting alone as a unit and
Americans fighting shoulder to shoul-
der with the French.
Tacit admission that the enemy
hordes have been retarded in their as
saults II not halted. seemingly is con-
tanned In the latest German official
communication which in dealing with
the fghting. asserts that the allied
troops on the Marne front have deliv-
cred ''violent counterattacks'' and
that to the east of Rheims "the sit
uation is unchanged" The claim
made to any success by the Germans
is that there were some local success
es to the southwest OF Rheims.
The success of the Americans and
the French give back to them points
OF strategic value on the heights DOM
mating the Narne valley. The Ameri-
cans alone recaptured Fossoy and
Crezancy east OF Chateau -Thierry and
at one point near Fossoy drove back
the enemy across the river and took
a number OF prisoners. Aided by the
French they recaptured st. Agnan.
Hill 223 and La Chapelle- Mont Hod-
ON. south OF Dormans. was accom-.
piished.
Throughout the region lying to the
west OF Rheims. especially south OF
the Marne. the Germans made des-
perate attempts on various sectors to
increase their penetration of the al
lied front. but where they were able
to gain any adventure IL was only q
foot at a time. the French meetin,
their onslaughts with the greatest
bravery and making the enemy pay
dearly for every inch OF ground II
took.
Eastward from Rheims hard fight
ing is still going on almost to the
western fringe of the Argonnc. but
apparently meeting with i'll success
Attacks attempted near Brunay cam
20 naught under the French fire while
further east near Crones and Tahure
efforts TO break tho French line were
repulsed with heavy losses.
The German official communication
In dealing with the lighting Monday
says the Germans took $4,000 prison
ers. The French on their part. are re.
ported to have taken thousands o.
captlves and II Is known the Ameri-
cans have made prisoner OF between
1000 and 1900 Germans. In addition
the Americans. French and italians
have inflicted terrible losses on "
enemy by the accuracy OF their can
non. machine gun and rifle fire.
Although the allied troops seem
ingiy have the situation we'll in hand
II In not improbable that the Ger
mans soon will throw large numbers
OF reserves into the fray. They are
known to have thousands of these
men behind the battle line, especially
northeast OF Rheims.
On the other battle fronts only mi
nor operations are in progress, bu'
on various sectors held by the Brit
ish In Northern France and Flanders
the Germans are carrying out spirited
bombardments which may he the fore
runners Of early infantry attacks.