The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-07

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Pursuit of -Djsorganized Ger
mans With Utmost Fisor-Huns
Trying to Save Some OF Army to
Make Stand Behind Canal du Nord.
With the British Army in France.
Sept. 3, p. m. (By the Associated
Press) ).-The British victory in the
battle OF the Drocourt-Q Queant line
seems complete. Without having de-
livered u single counteratEach and
staggering from the blows admins
tered to them yesterday the Germans
during the night and early this morn
ing were in full flight for the eastern
side OF the Canal du Nord.
The enemy is trying to save what
men and material he can from the
wreck in and behind one Of the most
powerful defense systems ever devils
ed. The much boasted Drocourt-
Cueant line, or, as the Germans cali
it. the Wotan line, IS totally shattered.
The British are driving far through 1t
and the Germans are hurrylng east
ward, leaving behind only pockets OF
machine gunners and even resistance
from these is gradually melting away.
Strong British forces are now fight
ing their way down the HindenburS
line Itself and are cleaning it up as
they go. Meanwhile. little south
from here, anothe. force is driving
on the E1indenburg line frontally.
The Hun has tasted disaster in the
Drocourt line battle and now his dis
organized and his badly depleted
forces are working fist to prevent an
even greater catastrophe overtaklnS
them. The British are rapidly ap-
preaching and are close to the Canal
.iu cSord, the territory behind which
is even now under heavy FIRE from.
many British cannon.
The foe knows we'll that this move
ment contains 4 grave menace to
some of lis forces end orders appar-
entity have been given to get them
out with all haste. The Canal du
Nord. where the Germans are retlr-
ing, is simply a canal under construc-
ton and contains no water. 1t is
like a railroad tunnel with the top
off. 1t IS so feet across and GO fees
deep, with its sides, for the most part,
granite walled, sloping slightly in
ward toward the bottom. There may
be- as hard fighting here as there was
last year
It was early in the morning, cfter q
night in which 4 n,cst stubborn bat
tie was fought, that the Germans be-
gan to show real Signs Of generally
ss aing
was reported Cleared Haiifb
lcs-Prez, on the extreme flank was
taken, ard the troops moved east
ward Eut they did not go far as the
Germans in desperation had damned
the river Scarpe at Vitry-en-Artc:s
ard flooded the .owlands in this To-
cality.
Patrols entered Biache-St. Vast,
which soon was reported entirely
captured. From t:1i:; general locality
on the north the British pushed
sharply forward. Early in the fore
noon airplanes reported no Germans
in any number west of Ecourt-St.
Quentin. which is east of Recount and
Sedomont where the British were
pushing on and overcoming the di-
minishing resistance.
The first substantial indication that
the Germans admitted defeat was
when the British troops entered Re-
court after having reached the out
skirts last night. They had been in
the town only a few minutes when
the enemy artillery began shelling 1t
heavily from a distance.
The British drove down the Arras-
Cambria road with ease today One
force. according 70 word received at
headquarters. captured Inchy-en-Ar-
tois: another occupied and cleaned up
the entire Ruisy switch.
While this was going on squad
group of the enemy some distance to
he east. managed to break through
the protecting German planes and
cained bombs down upon the masses.
and this probably upset any idea the
Germans had of making determined
stand west of the canal.
Since that time airplanes report
only few Germans visible for any,
distance on the western side of the
canal. enG those observers few over
the whole region at an altitude OF
only 200 Or 500 feet
During the forenoon tha British in
fantry moved forward so rapidly at
many places tha: they completely
outran their own artillery and press
ed on with only r,:ichine guns pre-
ceding them Since then. however,
the guns have been brought up and
are pumping shells at the far side OF
the canal. especially at the point
where it is crossed by the Arras-
Cambria road. for here is bridge
and the concentration Of fire undoubt-
edlv is seriously hirdering the enc
my efforts to get his transports and
his guns on the Sast side.
The men. of course. car cross by
down and up the sides
and probably by 4 few crossings that
have been thrown hurriedly over. al
though at the moment the existence
OF such crossings is not known.
It was after Inchy was taken that
the British forces among them the