The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-09
REGlINs COAL MINES
GERMAN RETREAT FROM LENS
REGION HELPS SOLVE FUEL
PROBLEM.
Allies VIII Soon be at Work in Great
Fuel House Under Earth Worked
For Years by GcrTnans-hing Al
bert Sure to Return Home Soon il
Weather Permits Drive.

washington, Oct 3.-The German
retreat from the Hindenburg line
was in full swing today, menaced BY
French, Belgian and British thrusts
at vital points. While official re-
ports told only of the evacuation OF
.Armentieres and Lens, officers here
confidently expected that this phase
Of the withdrawal must be expanded
to the south at once under the threat
of the British push nortneastWaro
from their lines between the zScarpe
and Cambria.
With the evacuation of Lens, the
enemy's hold on the great coal region
of Northern France is loosed.
Nothing has been received as yet to
show whether the mines have been
fired. but it is regarded as certain
that during the years of German oc-
cupation the great fuel storehouse be-
low the surface have been worked
to the limit.
AS evidence Of the complete con-
fdence with which the allied leaders
have viewed the future ever since II
became certain that the United States
would succeed in getting great
army to France for the fighting this
wear. it is now known that re-occu-
patton of the Lens field has been dell
nitely figured on for some months IN
computing fuel needs and supplies.
| There are also indications that
American coal mining units equipped
| with the most up-to-date machinery
| even with the means of fighting pos
sible fires in the workings, will be
! ready to enter the mines as -rapldiy
AS the armies force the enemy be-
hind them.
General Pershing's forces no doun1
will get some part of their coal thls
winter from this source, relieving
the shipping situation to that extent
The force which compelled the Ger
man leaders to order the evacuation
of the Lens -Armentieres front un-
doubtedly in military opinion mere
was the unexpected rush in Belgium
in which the Belgian army itself un-
der King Albert formed the spear
head that broke the way for sWl1'
expansion of the victory by French
and British forces There appears tc
| be little doubt now that King Al
| bert will be able to reestabllsh MS
capital on Belgian soil this wlnted al
though much depends on the weatn-
er.
Standing on the flank Of the Ger
man communication system from Ar,
mentieres to the vicinity OF Ccurta
General Plumer's second British
army is believed to hold the key to
wide stretch of territory now in enc
my hands. The wide, but rather
shallow pocket, which is forming be-
tween this line along the Lys River
and the British forces just beyond the
Scarpe to the south includes the mos
| thickly settled area through which
| the battleline passes on any part ol
the front and the numerous towns
and villages offer the enemy great
| opportunity for slow withdrawal ano
machine work.
Extension Of the Franco-Relglar
| drive north of General Plumer's line
however, would permit the British
commander to move forward to tho
southeast in a wide encircling move
ment. For that reason it is though
a, new drive is to be anticipated III
the Roulers front with large French
or. British forces supplementing tbs
| work of the Belgian armies. 1t has
| been reported already that an entire
French army has been shifted to TINS
front