The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-19
VICTORY IN BELGIUM.
BIG WEDGE TIRE tTENS PO-
SlTIONS OF HUNS.
Submarine Bases i'm Jeopardy With
Ostend Outflanked by Capture Of
Thourout and Moves Already Re-
ported to Leave Zeebrugge-Succcss
81 Italians in Albania.

The entente forces in Belgium and
France continue successfully to drive
the enemy before them. In Belgian
Flanders the advance is somewhat
rapid but on all the sectors in France
the Germans are fighting with des-
peration to hold back the foes.
The great wedge that is being driv-
en- by the Belgian, British and French
troops in Flanders now threatens Sc
riously the tenure by the enemy Of
many positions in north Belgium
fro1o the Lys river to the sea, inc1ud-
ing his submarine and Sother bases
along the coast, while to the south
the Lille salient gradually is being
enmeshed and doubtless soon will re-
ceive attention from the pincers,
which are being oiled for the task of
reclaim1ng this important tract of ter
ritory as far as Valenciennes Tor
France.
Meanwhile the French and Ameri-
can forces are struggling. valiantly
forward. in their drive northward from
the Champagne region into the coun-
try over which the Germans must ef-
feet a retirement to their porcer
ia event of a final debacie.
AS has been the case always since
the offensive began, the Germans are
vigorously defending their positions,
using innumerable machine gun de-
rachments in endeavors to hold thear
ground. Particularly vicious are the
counter thrusts that the Americans
are being compelled to sustain east
and west Of the Meuse, where the en-
tire enemy front is threatened WITH
irs,media tely collapse should Generas
Liggett's men crash through the hne
for material gains.
Nevertheless both the Americans
and the French are demanding that
their arms be served, and on various
sectors they are meeting with success.
IN the Romagne sector further gains
have been made by the Americans in
the face Of terrific artillery and ma
chine gun fire and the natural defense
Z and great systems Of wire entansie-
ments which had to be negotiated.
Bad weather has fallen over the sec
tor and the airmen nave been unable
to give their usual brilliant assistance
toAthe maneuvers.
To the west the French are slowly
closing in upon Rethel on their way
to Mezieres, being only two miles dis
tant from the town. West Of Grand
Pre- they have effected further cross
ings of the Aisne. About 500 Ger
mans were made prisoners in this
fighting.
In Flanders the British have tax
Z en- the important railway center OF
Menin. Thourout has fallen and the
Thourout- -Coutrai Railroad has al
most been won. Numerous towns
nave been recaptured by the allied
forces and large numbers Of prison
ers have been taken. Many guns also
have fallen into the hands of the al
lies. The capture of Thourout COM
pletely outfanks the German subma-
base at Ostend and brings the
allied troops within ten miles OF
Bruges, whence the railroad line runs
norihward to zeebrugge- Gerc':,nS's
other u-boat base on the North Sea
Reports are TO the effect that the
Germans are withdrawing what IS
left of their forces in the north, both
naval and military.
In Albania the Italians have oc-
cupied the Austrian naval base Of
Durazzo on the Adriatic, while in Ser.
bia the allied forces are continuing
to press the enemy troops north OF
NiSh.