The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-14
BY Associated Press.

The Germans have materially stiff
fened their defense against the Brit
ish, American and French troops Of
the Picardy front, but they have been
unable to stem the tide OF advance
against them.
Although the forward push Of the
Allies has been slowed down some
what, nevertheless they have made
further important progress from the
north of the Somme river where the
Americans and British are fighting TO-
gethar to the northern bank of the
Oise where the French troops are en-
gaging the enemy.
| The Americans and their British
!! brothers in arms at last accounts
were pressing closely upon Bray-sltr-
Somme, aided by tanks and armoreo
cars, which inflicted heavy casualties
on the enemy as he advanced to re-
tard their progress.
Across the river the Germans heav-
lily engaged the British at Lihons ana
in it's vicinity and at one point pierced
the British line and gained the out
skirts of Lihons A counterattack,
however, entirely restored the British
line and the enemy retired to positions
east and north of the village. Unofil-
cial reports from London credited the
British with entering Chauines and
British cavalry with penetration o.
the enemy's territory almost to Nesies.
These reports, however, have received
no official confirmation.
BY far the greatest progress has
been made by the French from the
region imediateI.- southwest and
south of Roye to the Disc river. Here
they have driven their line we'll across
the e-Compiegne road and at Cam
bronze have reached the road lead
ing from Compiegne to Noyon. Since
the capture Of Montdidier tn French
have penetrated eastward to Tillotoy,
a distance Of about seven miles, ana
tc Canny-sur- Matz, more than eight
and a half miles and through the
hilly region southwark to the Olse
have averaged gains exceeding SIX
miles over a front Of - miles. The
stiffening OF the German defense does
not, in the minds Of observers on the
battle front, indicate the retreat of
the enemy has ended. Rather 1T IS.
stzsaSlaEss
TO those; carried out over the Marne
front, when strong rear guardls COW
cred the retirement of the Crown
Princes armies northward.
The smoke of large fires continues
to be seen far behind the enemy's
lines and the movement Of long trans
port columns eastward is considerd
evidence that it is the intention of
the enemy ultimately to retreat to
new lines of defense.
Aviators have destroyed all the
bridges across the Sonnme from the
region of Peronne sotuhward and
with the enemy's communicating lines
either in the hands of the Allies or
dominated by their guns the retro
grade movement necessarily must be
slow.
Therefore strong rear guard ac-
tons are required to save large num-
bers cf men and guns and enormous
quantities of stores from capture.
The allied troops gradually are en-
circling Roye and its capture, which
now seems imminent, will greatly
heighten the difficulties Of the Ger
mans in falling back.
Intensive air fighting is proceeding
over the battle line. In Fridays bat
tie SO German machines were de-
stroyed and % driven down out Of
control The British war office
acknowledges that 22 British ma
chimes are missing.
Reports bring the number of pris
oners by the allies up to $4,000 and
the number Of guns captured to
more than 500
On the Vesle front the Germans on
the north side Of the stream are re-
ported to be entrenching and string
ing barbed wires over the territory
where they are facing the French
and Americans.