The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-27
F0cH DOMINATES BATTLE.
FRENCH COMMANDER HAVING
SEIZED OFFENSIVE STRIKES
WHERE HE WILLS.
Germans are Now Fighting on The
Defensive and Are Struggling Des-
perately to EXtricatc Themselves
From the Traps They Made.

tually million others either in
France or Fastening across the ocean
TO join in the fight, eral FOch has
been able to turn the .ables on the
enemy and strike a blow that has
changed the whole trend of the war. ,
Officials here, while fully recogniz-
ing the fact that the Americans are
today only comparatively small part
Of the vast forces the supreme COM
mander is using in working out his
strategic designs, realize the fact that
he American army is going forward
in a constantly increasing stream is
the governing factor in restoring the
initiative to the allied forces Plans
are therefore t,king shape rapidly at
the war department to accelerate and
enlarge the American military pro-
gram.
1t is now virtually certain General
'och will have at least 2,OOO,O 900
Americans to supplement his allied
rmies before the present fighting
reason closes. Secretary Baker an.
nounced today that war departments
new program embraces enlarged
lrmy appropriations, notifications of
the draft ages to increase the reser-
Soir of fighting men and plans for a
larger mobilization Of the army than
any yet undertaken would soon be
.cady for congress. He would give
10 details but the plans probably aim
at getting under arms without de-
lay total force not far short Of the
100000 figure widely discussed in
congress when the subject was last
under consideration there.
The fighting on the Aisne salient.
where the whole German offensive
scheme has been upset If not definite
ly defeated, by the bold strategy Of
zen. Foch, has opened new possibili-
ues. There Is increased need for
haste in the opinion of officials in get
ting full American man power ready
to supplement the efforts that appear
now TO be taking shape towards hurl-
ing the enemy back all along the front
and beginning the advance that will
end only when victory has been de-
clared.
Reports today indicated fully one
half all ground won by the Germans
in the Aisne salient already has been
torn from the enemy's grasp and the
French. British and American troops
were still pressing on at last ac-
counts. Mr.. Baker said today the last
reports from General Pershing were
satisfactory.
The German offensive arch in
France has rested on two great Dill
lars. one in the Picardy front and the
other on the Marne. 1t has been re-
peatedly stated that pressing home OF
this mighty pincher movement,
threatening both Paris and the chan
mel ports as 1t progressed has been
the German object from the first day
the battle of 1918 was opened in
March.
The southern pillar of that arch has
now been gravely weakened. Its Of
fensive value is gone BY desperate
efforts the Germans are seeking tot
prevent it from collapsing altogether
crushing whole divisions of their best
troops in its fall. Even if the allied
advance is checked now there appears
little likelihood that the enemy could
recreate his tactical position on
basis that would permit him to con-
tinue his old plan of campaign before
the coming of winter.
Meanwhile, British troops are still
nibbling away at the enemy in Flan-
ders and elsewhere to the north with
unvarying success. Just north of
Montdidier. the French have struck q
new blow the full Significance of
which Is not yet clear. Its success. /
however, was startling even from the
meager accounts so far received.
Some observers believed the new ot-
tack was a minor operation designed
to pin German reserves to that front.
Just as the British nibbing has pinned /,
enemy forces there when they were
badly needed in the South. Others
saw deeper strategy behind both Brit
ish efforts I'm Flanders and the French
and British local thrusts In Picardy.
1t appeared possible to some Off
GERS here that the next few davs
might see an allied assault on both
sides of the Picardy front. delivered
with the purpose of forcing German
reserves to rush back around tho .,