Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-09-18
GERMANS PREPARING STAND.
Washington officials See Great
Strength Test In Near Future.

Washington, Sept. 9.-With the
German army standing to-day sub
stantially in the positions it occupied
before last March 81, when it's great
est offensive was launched, 1t appears
certain to officials here that the next
few days will see the plans of the
opposing commanders revealed.
The statement In the official Ger
man communique that "our new
lines have everyM here been occu-
pied,' has been given only one con-
struction here. Apparently it was in
tended to mean that The retirement
had come to an end. and that the
Germans expected to stop the allied
advance. In that cvent, it was said
to-day, the light forces Of the Brit
ish, French AID American armies
will soor reaGn this defensive post
tion and subsequent operations
quickly will show how Marshal roch
proposes to assall tho problem that
baflied the French and British gene
raj STATS, the breaking Of this ad-
vsnred line of defense set ur by the
enemy on Belgian and French soil.
Allies Feeling Way Forward.
~ "no liOl LO-udS 3 re-
ports that the allied forces were still
feeling their way forward carefully
through the rear guard screens Of
machine gunners which still cover
many portions OF the en- emy's present
lines. Behind this screen, the Ger
mans were believed to have reoccu-
pied the old Hindenburg defenses,
which probably have been repaired
and suDplemented
There Is feeling among some
officials that the enemy Is very likely
to sigpaliZe his intention to stand
fast by striking back hard at the ad-
yancing French and British forces, or
even by an attack at some other
point designated, to relieve pressure
rather than to achieve any decisive
result In the way Of capturing towns.
On the allied side, it remains to
be seen whether Marshal Foch plans
fianking operation on a wide front
to turn the enemy out Of his new
lines and keeping him moving back,
or will continue to hit at weak spots
all along the trout. Opinion here Is
that the larger enterprise is the
most probable, since virtually the en-
tire American army is available as a
fresh, hard-hitting force with which
to deliver a coup. There is no doubt
that many officers here regard the
days Immediately ahead as probably
the crucial period of the whole bat
tie of 1918.
German Resistance Stiffens.
Paris, Sept. 9-With the allies i'm
mediately before or approaching the
Hindenburg line, the enemy Is be-
ginning to react more violently with
his artillery. Nevertheless, the
French are pushing ahead in the re-
gion where the line has not yet been
attained, and, according to the latest
information, were a. little more than
five miles from st. Quentin, their
guns following the infantry up speed
lily. The Germans evidently intend
to defend st. Quentin energetically
and are fighting in the approaches to
the town. The capture of the place,
however, is declared by the commen-
tators TO be the intention Of the
French command.
The Germans are likewise hurried
ly strengthening their defenses
around Laon. In the region Of Cha
vigny the Germans are reported in
stalling thick barbed wire, accumu-
lating munitions as If for lengthy
defense. The entire region north Of
the Ailette from hte vicinity Of the
Laon-Soissons railway is mass of
guns which the enemy has emplaced,
the reports declare, while north Of
Craonne numerous batteries of $50
and 170-milimeter pieces are concen-
trated.
On virtually the entire front, from
east Of Arras to the west of Rheims,
the German artillery Is pounding
away as 1t has not done for several
weeks. Nevertheless the general sit
uation remains excellent for the al
lies.