The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-17
GERMANS LOSE GROUND.
FALL BACK on FIVE MILE
FRONT NORTH AND SOUTH
OF SOMME.
Trenches in Number OF Villages
Found Cntenable i'm Face OF British
Activity While French Succeed in
Capture Of Ribecourt.

North and south of the Somme the
Germans have lost further lmporlant
ground. In the former region 1hey
have evacuated their positions over a
Eve mile front to the British north OIL
Albert while in the latter they nave
been beaten back in hill ana WOOL
ed districts lust north of the Olse XIV
er by the French.
German front line trenches at
Beaumont Hanel, Serre, PuisleuN-ao-
Mont and Bucqoy were found unten-
able by the enemy in, the face OF the
recent activity by the British all
along the line from Albert to Arras
while the French have persevered IN
their attacks against the Germans on
the sector which dominates the low
ar norton of the Picardy plain ana
The Disc Valley and have encroached
further upon the Lassigny masslf ana
the Thiescourt plateau and lar, 1er
south have captured the 1naportant
town of Ribecourt.
.sUnohicial reports have announced
the capture of Lassigny by the frehca
and of all the German positions De-
tween the western outskirts OF Bray
sur -Somme and Etinehem by the Aus
trahans. There is. however, no offl-
cial confirmation Of th>na.
From the Sonme to the Olse, ex-
cept in the latter region where the
French have made further gains, the
Germans seemingly have had further
success in holding back the Allleo
troops and still are in possession 81
Chaulnes and Reye, upon the capture
of which the efforts of the British ana
French have been centered.
On this central part OF the pats.'e
front the enemy continues tc dellve-
violent counterattacks and also has
eurther reinforced his line with men
and guns and is using them without
stint to retain his positions, reallzlns
that their capure would spell dis
aster.
The giving up of front line trenches
north of Albert possibly may mean
that the German high comand fore
sees the ultimate success of the Amer
can and British operations along the
Sonme and is readjusting the posi-
sons to meet any eventuality. In any
event the retrograde movement seem
ingly indicates that the ten mile sa-
eaien between Beaun1cEt Iasaea ana l
Bray on the Sonnme, with Albert ITS
apex now must give way in order that
the German front here may come ln1o
alignment with that in the south
across the Sounae. In fact, it seenas
not improbable that Germans pur-
pose to readjust their front from the
Somme to Arras, and possibly further
ncrthward.
The capture of Ribecourt by the
French marks an important cpoch IN
the offensive which has for its lmine-
date purpose the freeing of the re-
gion between the Sonme and the Olse
of the enemy. AS a gain from the
strategic standpoint it ranks with fhe
taking by the French Of the forest
and hill positions between the Matz
and the Disc, which has brought the
French almost to the gates Of Las
signy. Through Ribecourt hes an
open route up the Disc valley to
Noyon-a route by rail and the Dig
national thoroughfare, not to men
ton the canal which parallels the
roadways for the greater part OF the
way. Noyon is only a little more than
six miles northeast Of Ribecourt.
Although they are still encounter
ing violent resistance the French are
continuing to make progress through
the wood and hilly country between
the Matz and Disc where the German
from recesses in the forests, on spirs
and in the canyons. are using ma
chine guns in numbers. Gas also is
being loosed in great quantities by the
enemy. Almost entire control Of the
Thiescourt plateau and the other high
ground on this sector is now in the
hands Of the French.
Along the Vesle the Germans again
have made unsuccessful attacks
against the French and Americans
who are still holding their positions.
In the mountain region on the
western italian front the italians have
captured several important positions
from the AustrianS.