The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-13
alElT AMERICAN VICTORY.
All. TERRITORY WEST OF MEUSE
HAS BEEN OCCUPIED.

.Eannaander i'm Field Reports Umted
States. Forces in Historic French
CitY at 4 O'Clock wednesday After
noon-Rainbow Division Does
Good Work.
washington, Nov. american
.troops entered the historic French
.estrsof Sedan at O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. General Pershing report
ed in his communique for this morn
ing. All that portion Of the city
west of the River Meuse was occu-
pied
General Pershing in his commu-
niane for tonight reports that the
First army continued its offensive
east OF the Meuse; the Fifth Divis-
ION and National Guard troops from
Wisconsin and Michigan taking the
heights overlooking Brandeville and
=othar grounds after hard fighting
axairlst "a desperately resisting enc
nay.
The famous Rainbow Division and
the First {regular}r Division seized
the heights south and southeast OF
Sedan and the suburbs of that city
#est OF tae Meuse, the statement said.
50 added that the entire region be-
tween the Meuse and the Barr Rlv-
ers has now been liberated by the
First Army in close cooperation with
sfhe French Fourth Army.
General Pershing also said that
regiment of American infantry par
icularly distinguished itself in the
Anal victories in italy. He had ref
erenee to the Three Hundred and
Ehirty-second Regiment, Ohio Nat
ional Army troops.
the statement follows:
HEADQUARTERS American expedl-
donary forces, Nov. Z, Evening.
tessThe First American Army con-
sinued its offensive starting with
precarious footing on the east bank
OF the Meuse in a region Of unusual
natural difficulties and defended by an
enemy rendered desperate by the
knowledge that the heights north OF
Verdun were vital to his plans. The
FIFTH division, and National Guard
troops from Wisconsin and Michigan
employed in this operation had SLOW
i M but steadily fought their way
throughout these days of continuous
rattle: In this region we now hold
i LdoASBevant-Dun the heights over
looking Brandeville, three kilometers
OF Haramont, Sillon-Fontaine farm
and thence southeast to the old line.
-: s.ayhe Rainbow division and units OF
the First division seized the heights
south and southeast of Sedan and the
suburbs OF that city lying on the west
bank of the Meuse. The entire re-
Einn between the Meuse and the Bar
has now been liberated by the First
american Army in close cooperation
Mtksthe French Fourth Army.
sss.ss..In the Woeyre the troops Of our
Second Army have executed number
oH highly successful raids entering
5 he enemy's lines and returning with
s5 prisoners.
1.-the number Of guns of all calibers
taken by the First American Army
Mnce November now exceeds $50. A
partial count Of captured munitions
and materials showed more than 1000
machine guns, over 5000 rifles, 70
trench mortars, many anti-tank guns,
seyeraI hundred thousand rounds OF
artillery ammunition, nearly 100000
pounds Of small arms ammunition
and much other material.
"A regiment Of American infantry
particularly distinguished itself in the
nRal victories in Italy
With the American Army on the
n ia A on~1N ~ N
Thursday east of the Meuse fought
over some Of the roughest country in
Erancey taking the height south OF
the Woevre Forest and advancing
more than four kilometers, notwith-
standing the desperate rear guard ac-
tfvity OF the German machine gum
Hin $50, the great hog-back be-
tween .Laon and Marvaux, was taken
ia the morning by the Americans.
The americans pushed through the
series of woods and over the rolling
country, reaching the region of Ban
deville, Breheviile and Lssey.
The German machine gunners
fought as if they never had heard Of
peace talk, holding to their nests in
many cases until they were killed or
blasted out by the American artillery.
dE. rear guard actions machine gun
ners fell back into series Of fox
holes and dugouts, all well supplied
with cartridges, the rear guard fight
ers carrying. their guns from trench
t6 the other shelter until shot or TAX
en- prisoner.
After an all day struggle in the
dense woods and hills the Americans
late today reached the most easterly
heights Of the Meuse, dominating
miles Of open country north Of Dom
villers. the Germans literally having
been pushed out Of every foot Of
ground.
With the American Army on the
Sedan Front, Nov. Z, $50 P. AZ. (By
the Associated Press).-The matter
Of peace negotiations failed to slow
down in the slightest degree the op-
erations along the front today. The
news that Germany has taken definite