The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-21

The fighting on the Somme-Olse
battle front still continues of a minor
character compared with that OF the
early part of the week, when the
Germans reinforced their line and
stopped the eastward sweep OF the
allied forces.
Nevertheless the British and
French again have been able to gain
ground on two important sectors
the British short distance north
west Of Roye, where they took the
villages of Damery and Parvillers and
the French on the southern wing OF
the battle front where they captured
two farms in the process of clearing
the hilly and wooded district around
Lassigny Of the enemy.
North of the Somme between AL
bert and Arras the Germans are con-
tinuing to fall back and the British
are keeping in close contact with
hem. Thus far the Germans have
definitely given up the towns OF
Beaumont, Hamel, Serre, Bucnuoy
and Puisieux- Mont and at sew
eral points have crossed the Ancre
River, with the British following
closely on their trail NO official ex-
planation has yet been advanced Oh
The retrograde movement of the Ger
mans over this front, but it is not at
all unlikely that the operations on
the Somne front and the harrassinS
actics made the enemy desirous OF
establishing himself on new ground
eastward with the Ancre River bar
rier between him and his foes. At any
rate the Hebuterne salient has Vlr-
tually been obliterated by the retire
nent of the Germans and seemingly
they now will be compelled to make
4 readjustment of their line between
the Somme and Arras.
In the week Of fighting in the
Picardy front, 34,244 prisoners have
fallen into the hands Of the British
Fourth Army and French First
Army. Of tbs number the British
captured 21,S44. Unofficial reports,
probably complied since the official
data was sent from the front give the
number of prisoners in the hands oil
the British Fourth Army since Aug
ust s as $4,000. and says also that
80 captured guns thus far have been
counted
The situation in Russia again is
looming large. Soviet leaders have
lied from Moscow, the Bolshevlk cap
ital, to Kronstadt and the Soviet
roops now are declared to have be-
gun the evacuation of Moscow. Amer
can troops have begun to disembark
at Viadivostok to aid the Czecho-
Slovok army in its campaign In ST.
IBERIA, an allied army is chasing the
enemy more than 100 miles south OF
Archangel on the railroad further al
lies have made landing southwest
of Archangel. and are endeavorinS to
cut off the retreat of the Sovlets.
while British troops have arrived at
Baku in the Caucasus on the Caspian
sea to assist the Armenians in de-
Tending their important seaport
against the Turks to whom it was
given by the Brest Litovsk treaty IN
the attempt made by the Teutonlc al
lies to dismember Russia.
Thus it would seem allied forces
now are operating jointly on three
important sections of Russian terrl-
tcry-on the north with a base In the
White sea. in the east with base IN
the sea of Japan. and on the south III
Trans -Caucasia.
Probably realizing the seriousness
Of the situation as it now affects the
central powers. With defeats on the
western front and their military po-
sitions in the other theatres none
too secure-with the feeling in Rus-
sa daily growing more intense
> gainst the Bolshevil and Germanlc
rule and with the spectre Of the more
than 1.00C. 600 Americans eiready IN
France and more millions OF them
soon to be in readiness for overseas
duty. important conferences are IN
progress at German headquarters
The German and Austrian enperors
md their suites and Field Marshai
ION Hindenburs and General Luden- |
1orff are the main conferences. !