The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
GREAT BATTLE RENEWED.
GERMANS ATTACK WITH GREAT
FORCE ON AMIENS FRONT.
Allies Fighting a Defensive Battle and
Although Forced Back at Places,
Infiict Great Loss ON Enemy.

Aohuoh, Aprh o.-AIteT seVeTdi
days OF comparative inactivity along
the battle front in Picardy. bitter
fighting has been resumed along the
western sector Of the salient In the
lines OF the entente allies. Attacks by
the Germans against the British and
French are admitted to have yielded
some gains to tho invaders in the crit
icai sectors just to the east Of the
city OF Amiens.
The fightins. according to latest re-
ports. has been heaviest in the neigh
borhood OF Hamel where the British
were forced back slightly. and the
triangle formed by the Rivers Luce
and Avre. farther to the south. where
the French were forced to give
ground.
Nothing Is known as to the details
cf the battles In these sectors, but
the fact that the Germans have been
IN degree successful would seem
to'indicate that they have succeeded In
bringing up some Of their heavier can
non and new divisions with which to
continue their attempts to capture
Amiens.
(. Reports from the French and Brit
ish fronts have mentioned heavy
rains. which would mean that the Ger
mans have been working under q Sc
we're handicap In bringing up guns.
ammunition and supplies to the front
The battle field over which the allies
have retreated was left In devastat-
cd condition. The lull In the battle
for tho last days probably was caus-
cd by the inability Of the Teutons to
move their heavy supply trains over
these roads. together with the neces-
sity OF Reorganization of the sharter-
cd divisions which bore the brunt of
the nshting after they had passed the
first field Of fire OF their heavier guns.
. The British since retaking Ayette,
south OF Arras. have not resumed
their offensive. 80 far as reported by
London. but the German official state
msnt says that four attacks by the
entente forces against the heights
southwest OF Moreuil were repulsed
with heavy losses. There are no re-
ports OF fighting except outpost en-
counters.
"a There have been heavy artillery
bombardments OF British positions on
tho Menin road and at Paschendaele
east and northeast OF Ypres. accord
Ing to London. AS yet. however. there
10 nothing TO foreshadow an effort by
the Germans to attack there. Con-
fronting them are well fortified lines
and high ground held by the British.
On the French front before Rheims
and verdun successful raiding opera
tons have been carried out by the
French. The French report very
heavy artillery engagements north of
Montdidier. a sector which has wit
messed savage fighting.
Nothing has been reported from
the Italian front and It is not likely
that an attack has been launched
there by the Austrians who have
gathered an enormous army for a pos
able drive southwark into the plains
OF northern Italy.
Driven to take measures for their
defense the Armenians have organized
an army and have recaptured Erze-
rum from the Turks. as we'll as other
points In the nelghborhood OF that
city.
The landing OF German troops I'M
Finland Is apparently going forward,
reports stating that 10000 men have
arrived at Hango. fortified port on
tho extreme western tip OF the Fin
nish Peninsula.
There has so far been no official re-
ply to the peace kite" sent up by
Count Czernin. The opinion In en-
tente chanceilories seems to indicate
that IL generally Is considered another
Austro- German peace "offensive.p