The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-06-13


fresh troops arrived swiftly and with
out confusion. largely by motortruck
trains, and got into the fight immcdi-
atcly on reaching the front. I'Och was
compelled to keep in mind the fact that
more than 3.0OO.On0 German soldiers
are facing him and that vast numbers
are still threatening Amicns and Ar
ras, me consequently he could not
make his line everywhere as thick as
he would like to have it. Bui his plans
for quick shifting Of troops are adj
mirable. The German soldiers. it has
been learned from various sources.
were keyed up to the present effort by
promises Of the prompt capture of
Paris and n consequent German peace.
That these promises cannot be full
filled there need not be the least doubt.
The morale and valOr and determine
ton Of the French and British were
never greater than now, and the ever
increasing numbers Of the daShing
American soldiers give them renewed
confidence.
-Ea-
The Americans in Picardy undertook
their first real offensive on Tuesday,
and acquitted themselves gloriOuSly.
Attacking on a front Of one and q
quarter miles west Of Montdidier, In
less than an hour they had smashed
the German lines. captured the village
or Cantigny, taken several hundred
prisoners and inflicted heavy losses in
killed and wounded on the enemy. Tho
entire attack, including the waves Of
bnrrage fire. was carried out with per-
feet smoothness. Twelve tanks led the
way. and Pershing's men followed them
with the CRY eco t, 1t. Yanks." When
they reached Cantigny they found
the village mainly ruined houses. with
the German garrison hidden In caves
and dngouts. These refugees were
speedily cleaned II with grcnadcs.
n all the Germans there were either
killed or captured. 4 ridge beyond
the village was the real military OBJ
Jcctive.and this our troops soon gained.
and prepared to hold it. dcso,ite the
fierce fire from the enemy And hold
1t they did throughout thp week,
against repeated countcr-attacks.
This operation wns not extensive,
WV as VIC pIIICtI JlIlttIlIIS re-
marked. 1t was not The size that count
ed so much as the splendid way in
which the Americans showed the Ger
mans their mcttlc.
In the Luncvillc sector the Huns
made heavy attack on the American
line Wednesday. but were driven back
with considerable loss. The American
casualties were few and not a prisoner
was taken by the ncmy. though that
was their main object. That night
there was great artillery activity all
along the front northwest Of TOul, and
on Thursday many aerial battles were
fought there.
-Ra-
In Flanders the Germans made one
big attack. early in the week, between
FOOrmcZcclc and Locrc, but after gain
Ing a small bit Of ground they were
driven back with severe losses.
-Mi-
a characteristic bit Of German bru-
tally was the deliberate bombing Of
American hospitals in a town many
miles from the front. One nurse was
Killed md a number OF wounded were
injured. The Hun aviators also made
several attempts to raid Paris, but the
air defenscs Of the French capital are
now so admirable that the raiders
were easily driven off. American avia-
tors are now helping to defend Paris.
-Ea-
The Italians apparently grew tired
CT waiting for a renewal OF the Aus
trian offensive and took matters INTO
their own hands. In two dashing 0p.
erntiona they captured important
mountain positions i'm the Tonale re-
gion. together with many prisoners
II guns. and cut a big gap through
the Austrian d%cfcnses on the lower
Pave front at Capo Silc. The first Of
these battles was fought on ground
ZOO feet above the sea and amid gla-
ciors and melting SHOWS.
-Ea-
Sweden, 1t was announced, has
signed q commercial md navigation
agreement with Great Britain and her
allies. ? similar agreement between
Denmark and America has so angerc0
Germany ihat the Danes have been
served with ar ultimatum that 1t must
be cancelled.
h swapping o. the fun submarine
by American s%hlpt"tldcrs goes ahead
merrlly and no lOng.r :. there any
doubt Of the ultimate failure Of the