The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-21
Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881.
BRITISH AND FRENCH SUCCESS
MAXIMUM GAIN OF THREE
MILES WITH MANY PIiS-
ONERS.

Fall of ST. Quentin Sure to Come Soon
Although Allies Have Difficult
Operation Before Them Important
CITY is Now Menaced on Three
Sides-BuIgars and Germans Still
Falling Back.
British and French veterans have
made another vicious and successful
smash at the Hindenburg line Sweep
ing forward on front OF 22 miles.
they went ahead from one and a-thlra
to three miles, taking many prisoners.
The most important aspect OF the ac-
vance is that it makes more certain
the capture Of St. Quentin, which the
sGermans have been ordered to hold
at all costs. This important city is
virtually surrounded on three SIDES
and its fall seems only matter OF
days.
Field Marshal 1iaig's Third and
Fourth armies charged over the
trench system occupied by the British
before they were pushed back by the
Teutonic food last March. They CAP
tured, in wide sectors the outer de-
fenses of the Hindenburg line.
The British assault was over g
front of 1s miles, from Holmon, west
of st. Quentin. to Gcuzeaucourt, north
Of Epehy In their advance winch
reached a depth of more than three
miles at some points, they took more
than 5000 prisoners.
Not only did the blow bring nearer
the capture of st. Quentin, which the
Germans are struggling desperately
to hold, but it went far towards
wiping out the only bulge in the Brit
ish line which resembles a salient.
Epehy. at the apex of the bend, has
been taken and the same fate has be-
fallen Gouzeaucourt and HaEgicourt
which stood at the ends Of the wings
The importance which the Ger
mans attached to the territory wrest-
ed from them is indicated by the an
nouncement that they launched coun-
terattacks as soon as they could or
ganize, from Hargicourt to the Onlig-
non rivulet.
The success Of their efforts remain
somewhat obscure, but it is not be-
lieved they can recover the ground
they have lost.
While the French advance was less
spectacular than the British with
whom they cooperated they were
equally successful in gaining their
detectives They moved forward on
front of six miles to. an average
depth of one and ,a-half miles, add
ing several hundred prisoners to the
British bag They now hol the
southern outskirts OF Contescourt
less; than three miles from the SUI
burbs of st. Quentin. 4
This city. where the troops Of vo1,
Goeben scored a great victory in 1871
is one Of the buttresses Of the Doual-
Cambrai-St. QuentinLaon line. be-
yond which it has been announced
the Germans would not fall back. The
French in the outskirts Of La Fere
with st. Quentin invested ard with
the British battling doggedly for
Cambria, the great Hindenburg de-
tense system is in danger of being
preached at three Of its strongest
points Once oustcd from it the
Teutons will have back of them no
strong Notifications until they reach
the Maubeuge defenses.
The taking of st. Quentin remains
a difficult task, however, for the Ger
mans are in strong positions and a
captured order from General Won
Morgen to the Fourteenth reserve
corps emphasizes the Importance Of
the terrain they hold He orders
them not to yield another foot OF
:-s.
battles
While the British and French wera
forging ahead relent!essly in the West
the Serbs and the French in Mace
donia were. making more emphatic
their defeat of the Bulgars, who
have been reinforced by German
troops. There is every indication that
the offensive in the near East is OF
major proportions and that it will de-
the west of SakoI and the east Of
Vetrenik until the front extends over
16 miles. The allies have penetrat-
ed at some points a distance of ter
miles
The resistance of King Ferdinand's
troops is weakening as they are being
forced back
While Marshal Foch was following
his policy Of striking at widely sepa-
rated points along the battle line the
day was one of comparative quiet for
General Pershing's field army There
was no activity of consequence or
their front beyond the usual arti!ler!
and patrol activity
CROP CITSgN3RV