Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-17
Huns to Fall Behind
Hindenburg Positions;
Burn Towns on MoseHl

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
IN LORRAINE. September ~ (by
the Associated Press, 3 p.m.)-An
| American patrol I'm a raid made
! early this morning, In the gem
eral region OF Haumont, northwest
of Thiaucourt. captured i've nom
commissioned omcers and killed
seven other non-commissioned Of
hcers.
Ey the Associated Press.
AMERICAN ARMY. HEADoUAR-
TIERS IN LORRAINE, Monday. Sep
tember 16, Evening (Reuter).-Evi-
dence is accumulating that the enc
my intends withdrawing behind the
Hindenburg line in Lorraine if he 10
pressed any farther. He is burning
towns along the Moselle.
The Germans seemingly are holding
the Hindenburg line, from which they
are sending out patrols, while the
Americans and French. encamped 4
few miles on this side. continue to feel
out the line by the same method.
Divisions Artillery Taken.
| Prisoners taken report that the en-
tire artillery Of the 31st German Divi-
sion was captured in the American op-
GRAFTON on this front. The division
that was used to bear the brunt Of
the attack in the lunge in the salient
east Of st. Mihiel. it appears. was the
S5th Austrian Division. 1t was order
ed to maintain a holding action until
all the German troops were with
drawn. In consequence Of this it suf-
fered very heavy losses. especially in
prisoners.
Today was the quietest day on this
| front since the beginning of tho Of
fensive last Thursday. There was Mt-
tie infantry activity and only mod
crate artillery action.
/ Pont-a-Mousson and Dieulouard,
four miles to the south, were shellsd
by the enemy, who mixed in a few
mustard gas projectiles with his other
shells.
Huns Consolidate Positions.
German infantry has been observed
consolidating positions at La Chausses
as if in preparation for a counter at
/ tack, but none So far has developed
Near this point the enemy is occupy-
| ing shell holes.
| The German artillery fire is limited
chiefly to guns Of the II and los milli-
meter caliber, but many Of the shells
are "duds."
The Germans also are active in COM
structing machine gun nests at varis
GUS points of the line.
Enemy Loses Four Divisions.
1t probably is not an underestimate
to assume that the Americans. in
obliterating the st. Mihiel salient, re.
duced the enemy's strength by the
equivalent of four divisions. The VIC
tory Of the Americans was due to
German inferiority in numbers and
a greater inferiority in morale. The
enemy was so busily occupied in get
ting out of the salient that he did
not have time to remove his dead.
/ The statement coming from the
German high command-that it is glad
to be rid of the saient-may be be-
command also is glad to have lost
$4,000 men, more than 100 guns. an
i innumerable quantity OF maahinp
i guns, trench mortars, tons OF annynus
nition and telegraph material, a. well
as railroad equipment, rolling stock.
| were burned or captured by the
Americans.
Germans Did Not Fight.
False conclusions must not be
drawn from the results OF the op-
Grafton. To put 1t briefly, the Ger
mans did not fight, and the trininE
damage they did to the French and
Americans proves 1t.
The Germans may have done the
wisest thing, since. il they had tried
TO stand their losses would have been
Increased enormously. The allies had
the means to insure such a result, and
1.-THE fact that the operation required
tonly 81 per cent of the time allotted
Ito il is proof that much more siren
fuous resistance was expected from
THE enemy. He was in such a hurry.
= move his guns that scoeeo q