The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-07

Trying to Save Some OF Army tol
Make Stand Behind Canal du Nord.
With tie British Army in France,
Sept. 3, p. m. (By the Associated
Press).-'rhe British victory in theI
battle Of the Drocourt-Queant line
seems complete. Without having de-
livered i single courteratrach and
staggering from the blows admins
tered to them yesterday the Germans
during the night and early this morn
ing were in full fight for the eastern
side OF the Canal du Nord.
The enemy is trying to save what
men and material he can from the
wreck in and behind one OF the most
powerful defense systems ever devls-
ed. The much boasted Drocourt-
Cueant line, or, as the Germans cali
it. the Wotan line, IS totally shattered.
The British are driving far through 1t
I'd the Germans are hurrylng east
ward, leaving behind only pockets OF
machine gunners aid even resistance
from these is gradually melting away.
Strong British forces are now fight
ing their way down the HlndenourS
line Itself and are cleaning it up as
they 60 Meanwhile. a little south
from here, another force is driving
on the Hindenburg line frontally.
The Hun has tasted disaster in the
Drocourt line battle and now his dis
organized and his badly depleted
forces are working fist to prevent an
even greater catastrophe overtakins
them. The British are rapidly ap-
preaching and are close to the Canal
.Iu Nord, the territory behind which
is even how under heavy ire from
many British cannon.
The foe knows we'll that this move
ment contains grave menace to
some of lis forces end orders appar-
emily have been given to get them
out with all haste. The Canal du
Nord. wnere the Germans are retlr-
ing, is simply a canal under construc-
ton and contains no water 1t is
like a railroad tunnel with the top
off. 1t IS so feet across and GO fees
deep, with its sides, for the most part,
granite walled, sloping slightly in
ward toward the bottom. There may
be as hard fighting here as there was
t last year.
II was early in the morning, cfter a
night in which 4 n,cst stubborn bat
tie was fought, that the Germans be-
! gan to show real Signs Of generally
was reported Cleared ia {Ssss. fd
s!cs-Prez, on the extreme flank was
taken, and the troops moved east
ward. Eut they did not go far as the
Germans in desperation had damned
the river Scarpe at Vitry-en-Artc:s
ard flooded the .owlands in this To-
cality
Patrols entered Biache-St. Vast,
which soon was reported entirely
| &c ptured From tai:: general locality
on the north the British pushed
sharply forward. Early in the fore
noon airplanes reported no Germans
| in any number west of Ecourt-St.
Quentin, which is east of Recou-t ana
Sedomont. where the British were
pushing on and overcoming the di-
!ninishing resistance.
The first substantial indication that
the Germans admitted defeat was
when the British troops entered Re
court after having reached the out
skirts last night. They had been IN
the town only a few minutes wfen
.ne enemy artillery began shelllng 1t
heavily from a distance.
The British drove down the Arras-
Cambria road with ease today. One
force, according 10 word received at
headquarters. captured 1nchy-en-Ar-
tois; another occupied and cleaned up
che entire Ruisy switch.
While this was going on a squad
ron of airplanes. discovering larg"
group of the enemy some distance to
he east. managed to break through
the protecting German planes and
cained bombs down upon the masses.
and this probably upset any idea the
Germans had of making determined
stand west Of the canal.
Since that time airplanes report
ONLY a few Germans visible for any
distance on the western side of the
canal anG those Observers flew over
The whole region at an altitude OF
only 200 or 500 feet.
During the forenoon the British in
fantry moved forward so rapidly at
many places tha: they completely
outran their own artillery and press
ed on with only r.;ichine guns pre-
ceding them. Since then. however,
the guns have been brought up and
:, 40 ,,,,,., ps,,o cboIlc II tho for side OF