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TflK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Kstah Consolidated Aug. 2,1 BIG OFFENSIVE STARTED. GERMANS ATTACK ON WINE FRONT IN CHANCE. \-sanlt Was Expoc'od ami Attic* Were Head) to Meet ll?German* .Stake Everything on Chance of HreakltiK Western t rout. British Army Head iuarters in France, March IS, Arternpon (By the Associated Cress).?The Herman! this afternoon launched n heavy at? tack against the British lines over a wide front and near the Cant bra I sec? tor, and the assault bears all the ear? marks of being the beginning of the enemy's much heralded grand offen? sive. Hard fighting is proceeding from a point north of Lngnicourt southward to Oauche Wood just below Gouseau court. The attack was preceded by a heuvy bombardment from guns of all calibers, and the duel between the op? posing heavy batteries has been rock? ing the countryside. The Germans have employed gas shells freely, and a constant stream of high velocity sheila has been breaking with fright? ful eoncusslon fur back of thp British lines. Ths bombardment began in earnest St 6 o'clock this morning and about five hours later the enemy forces hurl? ed themselves on the British front line trenches north of Lagnicourt and lx)uverul. At the same time other German forces advanced behind a smoke bar? rage along the ridge running north? ward from Gouzeaucuurt. It may be said that the attack In this region was by no means unexpected by the Brit? ish. The two vast forces hsve been locked In ? bitter struggle over this wide front fOf hours. The bombard? ment waa of a most territflc nature, and finally the infantry drove for? ward against numerous points in the Cambrul sector. The preliminary bombardment has extended from a polri?^dow^ St. guentin, north to the ? river Hcarpe. and at last reports san? guinary fighting was In progress as far south as the region of Hargtcourt. and as far north as Rullecourt. INDICT MII.W A I'REE MAYOR. Council of Defense Chairman Socks Action on Grounds of Socialist Plat? form. Milwaukee. March 1' 1.?Wheeler B. oodgood. chairman of the Milwau? kee Counts rounnl of Defense, told newspaper reporters today he had pa? pers drawn up to 3eek the indictment of Mayor Daniel Moan. Socialist, just renomlnated: thnt Hoan's reelection as mayor being practically assured he. Bloodgood, would seel; to haVf Milwaukee pla< ed under military law. ? We might latter act now than wait." *nd Mr I'loodgood. "I assur? ed M. vor Moan that I would have htm Indu ted. I am seeking his in? dictment on the gtounds of the So? cialist platform itself, to which Roan subscribed. It declares th.it the peo? ple did not want the war, and that i was forced on them by the ruling elf? seen." PI TDflSON OOF'S FREE. < amp .la- I.m.ii <M1U oi \< i| ll it led In Raleigh. Raleigh. N C?, March 21.?After Vaj. Qosjesje i IMteroon had been ne> quitted in Wake County court here to? day of a charge >l having embezzled fT.SOO while paymaster of the North ? na ''.mud, Ids counsel announc? ed that the legislature which con? venes next January would lie asked to reimburse Major Peterson for that (?mount. After he was charged with ?mbeaalement Major Peterson, who now In in federal service at Camp I " Kson. Columbia. S. C, paid the Mate the lf,t#tv He de. late,I the ap parent shot tage resulted D om failure i? take pioper vouchers. s' \ I N Uni IN M BI D. hm stlgntion on to I ind Cause of Dfcu nwtcr on Nog Back Range. Spartan'..u- k. Mar? Ii Jl S< \* n men were injured .one of them pcihap fitallv. tod.i\ Whag a 4.7 gun explod? ed at the Hog hack artillery rang.' The Rim was betgsj Irttd ??> Hattet \ K lOHth heavy Held artillery, A d.ie. live shell is supposed to have been the sause, though as pal no icport hjM lieen made as the result ,,f an inMuir being corulm t"d The Run was M*Wn to pieces particles of it being picked up more than a quarter or a mile ills tant. only one of the injure,| men have hagg brought to the base bos pitnl; the others are being cared foi in the regimental hospital at tic sated April, 1860. "Be fust m ?81._ SI DESTROY GERMAN TRENCHES. vMi.mcw artillery wipe opt ?HOT AHB SECOND links. Patrol Kilters Grnnun Positions ami IM Thorn Destroyed nnd Deserted ?Number of Germans Surrender to America i is. American Army in France, Th?rs day. March It;?The enemy's first and second line positions on that part o' the sector east of Luneville h&VC boon destroyed completely by Ameri? can artillery fire. An American patrol today crossed No Man's Land, with? out the aid of artillery fire, and found tic lines wiped out, and obtained other Information. They returned without casualties. Northwest of Toul last night a num? ber of Hermans deserted and surren - d red to an American patrol. Ill N OFFENSIVE FAILED. British Klatcnvnt Tluit German Pro? gram Was Defeated. British Army Headquarters France. March I,?Havy fighting 's still con? tinuing, but the first stag"S of the of? fensive have passe?!. Tho enemy fl ded badly in the execution of hl? program, as attested by captured doc? uments. The exact British line eannot b I made public at presnt. Vigorous counter attacks late yesterday restored seme of the positions which the Brit? ish temporarily abandoned. FIGHTING IN CHAMPAGNE. Germans Carry on Heavy Bombard? ment All 'Day Thursday. Paris, Thursday, March 21.?Tho Germans are today carrying out a heavy bombardment along several sectors of the front, it is announced officially. Three infantry attacks near Hurlus were broken up by French lire. During the day enemy artillery kept up a heavy Are between the Miette and Aisne, In the whole Khelms SSO? tion and the Campagne front. TREATIES TO BE AMENDED. To Excnii* Irishmen and Australians From Draft. \\ -.shington. March 21.?The Brit ish-American and Canadian-AimM i can treaties were returned to the State department by the senate today at the request of President Wilson for certain c. banges before ratification Amendments have been agreed upon b> the governments which will o< Saipt Irishmen and Australians in this county from draft by providing that tho provisions of the treaties shall not apply to men not subject to <-'inscription in their own countries. PLEA FOR PEACE. Tlie P<?is? Send* Faster Message In America. Home, Thursday, March 21.?A plea for a lasting peace is made by th I Pops |g his Kastor message to the United States, which he sends th ough the Associated Press. He sa . s: The lirsl message of the risen Sa? viour to His disciples W0SJ 'Peace be unto you,' and never has the world noedeel that message as it does to da GERMANS EXECUTE PIUFSTS. TWO Belgians Put to Death as Spies. London. March 19,?The execution in Hrussels of two Boman Catholic priests on the ohargs of soplonags hi reported in an Rxchange Telegraph dis >at< h i rotn Amsterdam. know in TEXAS. Winter Gomes Isjuln hi Pan llandb Region, but Worth. March L'".' -Snow was reported falling early today in tin P< || pen bandle. BAKER Visits PAGE. NeeOOlnr] <?f War tines! Of Ambassa? dor. London, March L'".? Newton D. B0? 1 the American secretary of war. will i.e ins gtieel <?i Ambassador Pan' ? a. lie.-, hll I'M. ! sta| oi London. Washington, March ?- "Twelve ad? ditional deaths resulting from tin- col i llslon of th.- destroyer Mnnley, ami a I'ntish warship were announced todu) b " the na\ v department cadi/. Thuraday, Mareb 2 The Spanish Trans Atlantic- liner Montevi deoi who h sailed Mpnday for Nosy York, was held up by a (boman sub? marin. TtiOSday and forced to retina hsri nd Fear not?Dec all the ende Thon Ali JMTER, S. C, WEDNE? GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY. ANNOUNCE TAKING OF |IBN I AND (it NS. Sixteen Thousand Prisoners and Two 'Hundred Gone Roust of Huns After First Hay. London, March 22, (British Admir? alty per Wireless Press).?Sixteen thousand prisoners and 200 guns have ben captured by the Germans, ac I cording to a German official com? munication received by wireless to ; night. j , The text of the communication fol? lows: "The success of yesterday in the fighting between Arras and La Fere was extensive in t\ie continuation ol our attacks. "Sixteen thousand prisoners and 200 guns po far have been reported cap? tured. Before Verdun the artillery duel continued. From other theaters of the war there is nothing new to re * port." ?'From southeast of Arras, as far as La Fere, we attacked the British po? sitions. After powerful fire by our artillery and mine throwers our in I fan try stormed in broad sectors and everywhere cultured the enemy tlrst j line. "Between La Fere and Soissons, on both sides of Rheims and In the Champagne, the Illing Increased in In? tensity. Storming detachments brought In prisoners in many sector;-. "Ostend has been bombarded from Ihe sea. "In Belgium and French Flanders the heavy artillery duel continued. Reconnoitering detachments pene? trated on many occasions into the enemy linos. "Our artillery continued tho de? struction of enemy infantry position! and batteries before Verdun. On the Lorraine front also the artillery ac? tively increased on many occasions. 'From the other theaters of war there is nothing new to report" NOT CONFIRMED BY LONDON. Nell tier Haig's Report Nor News From Correspondent Given Support to German Claim. London, March '22.?The news com? ing from correspondents at the front today that 40 German divisions were engaged In the fighting on the front Of attack and that the greatest con? centration of artillery in the world's j history was operating gave the British 1 public an Idea of the tremendous struggle on the west front but noth? ing In the dispatches, cither from Field Marshal Haig nor from the newspaper correspondents has pre? pared England for the German claim Of the capture of 10,000 prisoners and 800 guns as the result of the first day's lighting in the new German of? fensive and tho disposition at the mo? ment |S to regard the claim as an ex? aggeration. According to the correspondents the British withdrawals where they were necessary were curried out in good order. It had been intimated that the Ger? mans would claim the capture of sev? eral villages, hut the dispatch gave no hint of the names, All the dispatches emphasised the In avy cost to the Germans of the first da) 's struggle, GERMAN DRIVE UNCHECKED. ! Hritl>s!i Stubbornly Falling Back Be? fore Titanic onslaught?Voluntarily { Give up Some Positions to Hold I n broken Bine. London March 83.?The Germans \ have forced their way into Mory, but a dashing counter attack drove them out, Router's correspondent at Brit? ish headquarters reports, a large I part) was surrounded and probably captured, There Is reason to believe that lift) Oerrnan divisions are pour? ing Into the struggle) ths correspond* ent states, with probably half a* main more In olose reserve. Under the tremendous onslaught the British troops are falling back slowly, in ex cellent order. At many places they are voluntarily wlthdrawlnhg to maintain an unbroken front. DISASTER FOR BRITISH. Berlin, March 23. Between fron tier, Lescroissiles and Moeuvres the German forces penetrated into the see oud enemy positions, capturing iw.' villages, anas headquarters announc? ed. British counter attacks have fail? ed, so far, the statement says. Twen ?v-live thousand prisoners, four bun died guns and three hundred mo ? bine guns have been taken. Hon. Oeo. M. Stuckey, of Blshop i vllle, wus In the city today. ; aito tm'i at be thy Ocuntry'e, Thy God's a JDAY, MARCH 27, 1918 HEAVY LOSSES SUSTAINED. BRITISH AM) GERMANS BUFFER] GREATLY. Some Progi*css Made by Teutons But ut Other Points Attack Breaks Down, London, Match 22.?The Germansj on Friday along almost all of the bat- j tie front continued their attacks in great strength. At several points the enemy made gains against the British, but at others he was repulsed in counter-attacks, according to the British official communication issued tonight. The communication says: "This morning the enemy renewed his attacks in great strength along practically the whole of the battle . front. Fierce lighting occurred in our battle positions and is still con? tinuing. "The em my made some progress at certain points. At others his troops have been thrown back by our coun? ter-attacks. "Our losses inevitably have been considerable, but they have not been out of proportion to the magnitude of the '>attle. "ho;n reports received from all parts of the battle front the enemy's losses continue to be very heavy, and his advance everywhere has been made at great sacrifices. "Our troops are lighting with the greatest gallantry. When all ranks and all units of every arm behave so well it is difficult at this stage of the battle to distinguish instance?. "Exceptional gallantry was shown, however, by the troops of the Twenty fourth Division in a protracted de? fense at Ix?verguier and by the Third Division who maintained our positions in the neighborhood of Croisilles and the north of that village against re? peated attacks. "A very gallant light was made by the Fifty-first Division in the neigh? borhood of the Bapume-Cambrai Boad against repeated attacks. 1 "Identification obtained in tho course of the battle shows that the enemy's opening attacks was compos? ed of some 4 0 divisions supported by great masses of German artillery rein forced by Austrian l atteries. Many other German divisions have since taken part in the lighting and others are arriving in the battle area. "Further fighting of a most severe I nature is anticipated." ALIEN ENEMIES ARRESTED. Three Men Using Positions of Trust to Do Germany's Dirty Work. Philadelphia, March 22.?Two ene I my aliens and one naturalized Amer I icon were arrested today and held in j heavy bail tonight on the charge of I conspiracy to defraud the government 'I by furnishing defective gauges for tor I pedoes used on American warships. The men under artest are Fritz Bietet, assistant to the general man? ager of the United Stutes Gauge Com? pany of Seller8ville, Pa.; William Hendrlcko, general foreman, and George Schubert, foreman. An affidavit, sworn to by a govern? ment agent, says the company is en? gaged in manufacturing gauges for the United states government. It was set forth that the gauges are subjec ed to an endurance test. It Is Charged that the accused men Installed secret taps and pumps to the gauges with the result that the test was defeated. The defeat of the tests left some of the gauges, which are used to measure the air pressure of torpedoes defective, according to government agents. Whether any of the defective gauges are now on torpedoes on board war? ships, government officers could not say. LUMBER COMPANY SEIZED. ? Alien Enemy Corporation Taken Over by Government. _ Washington, March 83.-?The gov eminent today look control of Ihe German-American Lumber Co., of Pensacota, whic h is capitalized ;,! three million dollars and operates mills throughout Florida. The com? pany's president, Kuhlenknmpf, la ready Interned .it Fori Oglethorpe DI TCH REFUSE OFFER. Decline Allies* Offer to Exchange Grain lor ships. London. Matth 26.?The Dutch cabinet is said to have decided Snn 'day to send the Allied powers a form? al refusal of their offer of grain in re i turn for Hhips, a dispatch from The i Hague to thu Dally Mall says. ?4 TrattVa." THE TRUE I. GERMAN DRIVE HALTED. GREAT OFFENSIVE HAS NOT DE BTROYED ALLIES' ARMY. Road to Parlfl Not Yet Open to Huns for British and French Stand in The Way With Determined Bravery. London, March 26.?Fresh attacks by the Germain have developed north? ward and southward of Bapaume, the war office announces. The British re i pulsed powerful attacks yesterday I northward of Bapaume. The British drove back to the eastern bank of the Son.me bodies of German troops which had crossed the river between Licourt and Brie, aottth of Peronne. The statement says: "The battle continues with great v olence along the whole front. Powerful attacks which were delivered by the enemy Sunday afternoon and evening north of Bapaume were heavily repulsed. At only one point did the German in? fantry reach our trencies, whence they were immediately thrown out. During the night and this morning fresh attacks again developed in this neighborhood and also south of Bapaume." Berlin, March 25.?Tie Germans are now standing to the north of the Somme in the midst of the former Bomme battlefield, it is officially an? nounced. Bapaume was i capture;1 in night fighting. In the evening Nes'e was taken by storm. The British Americans and French were thrown back through the woo led country More than forty-five thousand prison? ers have been taken. FRENCH IN THE FIGHT. Have Come to Asslstame of Brlt'sh on Battle Ere ut. Paris, March 25.?The French on Saturday went to the assistance of the British and took over a sector of the battlefront. AMERICAN GUNNERS ACTIVE. Persistent Artillery Fire Destroy Ger* man Trenches. American Army in France, Sunday, March 24.?American artillery in the Toul section continued today to shel! effectively the enemy first line and important points behin 1 the line. Many American shells have fallen in .lie German trenches. The first two lines at least one plae< have been virtually abandoned. One American patrol inspected ;hls point in enemy line with?ut mo 'estation last night and this morning. They remained there several hours There has been no contact between the infantry within the la.st twenty four hours. FIGHTING NEAR NOYON. Hravy Battle on the Hi?ht Bank of Oise River. Paris, March 25.?In the region of Xoyon and the right tank of the Oise river heavy fighting with the Germans is in progress. ENGINEERS IN CONFLICT. British Army Headquarters, France. March 26.?A furthei advance late yesterday by the Germans at some point saiong the battle fr>nt is report? ed. The American engineers again have been in the throes of the tierce conflict, in which they have done ex? cellent work in transportation. The Germans are pushing forward by sheer weight of numbers with as? sistance of little artillery. Retwe? n Bapaume and IVronne the British fell back again somewhat late Sunday. This retreat marked the main BUCi of the enemy. PARIS UNDER FIBI5. Paris. March 26.?The long range bombardment of Parts was resumed at ?;.::?> tins morning, but w;is inter-; rupted after the second shot. Two: more shots were then med und the bombardment was again suspended at: 9.30 o'clock. Mr Raid By Nif lit. Paris, March 26.?Anotier air raid alarm was sounded shortly after 1 o'clock this morning. A'ter three quarters of an hour th?> sit-clear sig? nals wen? sounded. WEBE NOT IN BATTLE. Washington. March 25?German statements that American troops have taken part in the ftg ting >n the Brit? ish front had not been C< nbrmed to? day ami officials including MaJ. Gen. March, chief of staff, declined to com i men! on the reporta \ SOUTHRON, EttJLbMsfeed Jam*, VoLXLVI. No. 12. NOTi INB TO FEAB. FRENCH HIGH COMMISSIONER SPEAKS OF SITUATION. ? Captain Tar liu Urse? American Peo? ple to P:*?pnrr to Strike Enemy Telling R ow. New York, March 24.?There is nothing In he current, news from overseas to warrant any disquietude on the part of the American public or any of the rations allied against Ger? many, in the opinion of Capt. Andre Tardieu, French high commissioner to the United -tates. In a statement is? sued here today, however, he council ecl i.he hastening of preparations in this country to deal the enemy "blow for blow" nd the maintenance by Americans at home of the same "calm . confidence" in the ultimate issue of ' the war as has been manifested by the nation's troops in France. Germany's "long distance bombard? ment" of Piris can have no signifi? cance front a military viewpoint, Cap? tain Tardieu declared. The British re? tirement near St. ' Quentin, on the Western front, the high commissioner i said, was a move paralleling that ol , the French during the first two dayfi of the battle of Verdun. "The German attack," said Captain Tardieu, "stems to have exceeded in violence by the number of guns as '. well as by number of men all previ? ous attacks. The British retirement near St. 'entin relatively is not more imp* tant than the French re? tirement wjis at the beginning the Verdun engagement. "Ten days later at Verdun, we had ceased to retire and the result was of negligible value to Germany. We have every 'ight to think that the out I come will 'ie the same this time. I think the numerical superiority of j Germany is six to five, hut the Brit j ish and Fn ach are much stronger and j much bett? r armed now than we were 1 at Verdun. Therefore, there is no { cause for i? ixiety. "In thei' official communique the Germans c volare that the first slug* of the groat battle has ended. This . Js a very Mediocre result What will follow we shall see and I do not chooee to be a prophet, but I have a con? viction thac the beginning of this j battle hold nothing that should be 1 disquieting to the allies. I "As regard! the bombardment of Paris by loapr range guns the bom? bardment does not seem to have hurt Paris as mach as is usual in a bomb? ing by airplanes. I have only one word regarding this firing on Paris. If I there reall\ exists such a gun, the initial speed of the shell must be such that the gun will not be able to work aiter a very limited number of shots. We must therefore maintain the same attitude thatt he Parisians have held j?there must be complete calm! "Finally. I ask our American i friends to draw from the first two days of battle only two conclusions; first, the necessity of keeping cool and making theinaslves the critics of the i news, and second, the necessity to I act rapidly and increase with all haste I the preparation of the American help. In such a great battle as this, we I must see t! B who' 'hing and not only B part of It. "In the 'ist two days I have no? ticed a tendency now and then on the I part of tb American press and the American | sblic to be s little nervous. American 1 oys are on the front. The American public in the rear must keep as calm as the American boys on the lighting Une.H HUN8 OCCUPY PETROGRAD. American Consul Sent Report on March 20th. Washington, March 25.?German occupation of Petrograd within twen? ty-four hours was predicted by American Consul Tredwell in a dis? patch to the State department dated March |#th. Virtually all Americans had left the city, the dispatch stated. RR1TIS? COT\TER ATTACK. Battle in l he Region Between Xeslc, ham and Rchors. London. March Is.? British this morning nre counter attacking be? tween N'es, . Ham and Rchors, ac cording to b utcr correspondence. The [Trench an also In action. North of Bapaume, he says. IhO Germans failed to cet through the British barrage. STOCK MARKET WEAK. War News C; used Ilea\y Selling and Market broke One to Three Point*. New York, March 25.?Stocks broke one to three points on the opening of the marke: on further heavy selling. Impelled 1 \ war news.