The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-31

hordes of the Huns.
These Huns had been thrown into
the fighting in this section in an ef-
fort to keep the British from pene-
trating the famous Queant on Dro-
court switch line which formed the
northern continuation of the OLD
Hindenburg line after the British last
,ear beat the Germans back from Ar
ras. This line has been approached
in several places and has reached 1t
ir at least one place in the neigh
borhood of the Sensee River.
The success of this drive here and
the breaking through of the old Ger
man defense system may have Tar
reaching effects both in the north
and the south.
South. of the scarpe the Canadians
finally captured all of Pelves after
brisk street fighting and pushing
eastward their advanced Latrols en-
tered Remy and Haucourt The Brit
ish are well east of Fontaine, and the
main body Of the Germans has re-
tired from Hendacourt eastward.
Extremely heavy fighting is in pro-
gress from a point south of Lens
southwark across the Scarpe River to
the Arras Cambria road, but the
british are making progress, every
where beatiag daMn snsaG GsEmansEeas
AT least two new German d sIv1sfoIs'
have Just been identified in this fight
ing and more may appear ere long.
But while they are opposing the al
lies and in most cases are battling
hard, there have been some Instances
ir which the enemy troops have
shown themselves to be excessively
nervous which is as it should be con-
sidering the pounding they have had
and are still getting from the British
cannon and the defeats they have
suffered at the hands of the advancing
infantry.
A large boche force was brought up
to counterattack the British positions
east of Monchy Some of the COM
panies at the last moment, according
to prisoners statements refused to
participate and the rest went on with
out them, the British withdrawing 400
yards.
Later. the British reattacked, pay
ing particular attention to the ffanks
and drove the Germans out. Then
l second time the enemy troops were
called upon to counterattack. This
time, it was reported, the whole
body refused and. only a few patrols
were seen by the British.
All sorts of troops have beer
hurled into the battle south Of the
Scarpe as well as north of that river
but many formations have been fin
;shed off almost as soon as they ap-
peared. The ground over which the
advance was p~ade today is covered
with large numbers Of German dead
Just south of the Scarpe one place
was carpeted with bodies in field
gray.
There was also heavy fighting in
the Croisilles region before and at
ter that town was stormed and cap
tured. Fierce fighting has been re-
ported from Croisilles ridge and the
beaten Germans are said to be flee
ing from Bullecourt and the coun-
-;.y to the north and south. The cap
ture of Croisilles eliminates spot
which had been holding the British
advance on that part of the battle
front. Stiff resistance has been OF
cred during the counterattacks and
the British swung around on the
f1anlks driving especially down from
he north and following the genera
direction of the old Hindenburg line
md tie town became too hot for the
enemy to hold.
Sanguinary losses have been IN
dicted or the Germans in all the
lighting in this general region. Brit
ish guns placed back OF Crolsll!eS
have had the retreating Germans al
lany places. particularly in the
leichhorlood Of Hendecourt. under
direct fire. The gunners have had the
unusual experience OF seeing w re
every shot fred fell and noting wha!
damage each did. The enemy artll-
cry. retiring from the rear Of Hende-
court. offered a fire target and shells
we're sent raining into the fleeing col
umns. cutting great gaps in them.
Nis-en-ArtoiS. which Was captured
yesterday by the Canadians. WAS the
scene Of moro hard fighting. The
town is completely levelled and many
dead Germans are mixed up in tn"
piles Of debris.
Tho cntmy has even resortcd to
'iowirc great craters in the roads
.outh OF the Somne in his effort to