The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-12
18Th IN DRIVER
Offensive On Where 1t Was
Last Reported To Be.
The Division Contains Many
Kansas Troops.

Washington, Sept. ~ With
French and American troops striking
on a wide front south and east OF
Verdun today the greatest battle, per-
haps the decisive struggle of the war,
may have begun. Early reports show
that this first employment of General
rershing's NV army is on wide
front, the joint French and American
thrust covering twenty miles. Appar-
emily the initial effort is to force the
enemy out of the ST. Mihiel salient
which he has held since 1914. The
American troops have been holding
the front along the southern and
eastern sides of the salient. Their
lines, according to the last informa-
ton include the point where the front
crosses the Moselle river. The course
of that river is the direct road to
Metz, which it has been expected here
would be the objective of the first
phase of any attack by Pershing's men
in this region. Many officers here be-
lieve Marshal Foch now has struck
the blow he has had in preparation
ever since he determined to withhold
the bulk of the American. army from
the fighting until the stage was set for
decisive action. The move planned
however. may not develop to it's full
extent for several days.
seth Probably There.
According to the last reports noted
here, American divisions known to be
in the positions from which the attack
has been launched included the
veteran First and Second regular
| divisions, which were the first Ameri-
| can units to get into action in France
| the seth national army, composed OF
Kansas. Missouri. South Dakota, Ne
braska, Colorado, New Mexico and
| Arizona troops. and the Sind national
| a Of A Ioh
| and Tennessee troops, with the 37tn
national guard. composed of Ohio
| troops, further to the east on the front
| opposite Nancy.
| May Have Been Shifted.
| General Pershing has been concen.
! trating his army for some weeks in
| this general region, however, and a
complete shift in the divisional align.
ment may have been made before the
troops went over the top this morning
| To the west, along the front south Of
| Verdun, where the French line stands
parallel to the Mouse, the French, il
| appears, are driving ahead to. pinch
| the enemy out of the salient. The
| French operations form one jaw of the
greater pincer movement of which ths
American thrust towards Metz evil
IDENTIFY is the cutting edge.
Probably a Prelude.
| Success for the Americans would
mean abandonment by the Germans Of
all territory in the salient and with ];
the last possibility of thanking tbs
fortress of Verdun. The scope of the
present action is not yet clear. 1t il
strongly believed by officials here
however, that it is only the prelude
| to "a great effort to turn the =whola
/ German line and possibly to cut Sc
deeply into his positions along thu
Verdun front that he might be com
PEELED to abandon much territory il
4 Alsace and lorraine Observers wht
look for a turning movement to thu
! north anticipate, that the present &C
ton will spread quickly west ant
north and to the front east of Rheims
| strangely quiet turnout the fightin:
| of the last weeks.