Middletown transcript., 1918-09-21
BETTER BASE FOR
FUTURE DRIVES
General March Discusses Gen.
eraI Pershing's Victory
STRONG POSITION GAINED
General March Hints At Continued
Offensive On st. Mlhiel Front
Fine Staff Work BY The
American Army.

Washinton.-Behtnd the brief Off
cial announcement that the French
had attacked south of the Aisne and
on the Orse Ailette sector, military
observers here believe Is q definite
hint ~ to the basic strategy govern
ing the Allied operations. The ,pur
pose of General Foch is now thought
to be to strike at various points on
the long western front in such rapid
succession that the German general
star will not find an opportunity to
withdraw any battered troops for rest
and recuperation. Results Of these
tactics, officials here hold, soon will
be reflected In the accelerated disrup.
ton of the enemy morale, which ON.
cial and unofficial reports from abroad
declare has been palpably damaged
by the events of the last two months.
If strategists here have correctly
guessed Foch's plan, such phase of
the offensive will be designed to reach
some limited tactical position, while
collectively the series Of blows would
serve to keep the entire enemy de-
fensive line in q state Of perpetual un-
rest.
Many officers believe this purpose
will be shown more clearly as the
winter sets in by continued pressure
against the German lines all along
the front, to keep the enemy from
stabilizing his position, and to keep
his men from getting any rest, and
restoration of morale in that way.
There Is no question in the minds of
these officers that the supreme com.
mander Is aiming at the morale of
the German army by these harassing
tactics as much as an advancement of
his own battle front. Destruction of
the enemy army, after all, they say. Is
the only certain way to military vic
tory.
General March, chief of staff, limited
at a continued offensive by General
Pershing on the st. Mihiel front. At
his weekly conference with newspaper
NOAA C0ROAuOAlS uO S0AO VAuAA4D0tAO0 VI
the salient furnished better base
"for future offensive operations" Com.
menting also on the value in a mill
tary sense of the communication line
restored by the American success. No
Official reports had come, however, to
show the course Geenral Pershing is
following since the two wings of his
attack formed junction and closed
the mouth of the st. Mihiel trap ON the
enemy.
Berlin reported officially that Perish
ing's men were feeling their way to-
ward "our new line" east of Combres
and northwest Of Thiacourt- Just
what time this referred to was not
clear. 1t appeared probable. however,
that the line Of defense upon which
the Germans have fixed will be found
we'll to the north and east Of the posi-
tons held by Pershing's outposts at
last authentic reports. It is not be-
lieved here, however, that the enemy
will yield control Of the Briey iron
field without a stubborn fight, and
General Pershing is advacning directly
toward that important region.
Discussing the American operations
General March said:
1.-THE old St. Mihiel salient was the
first one that was established along
the western front in September, 1914,
and is the last one to go; the narrow
est and most angular of all salients,
projecting IL miles into the French
line and having important military
bearing, because it is across the rail-
road Of the Mouse Valley, cutting of
Verdun from Commercy and Toul
and leaving only one supply line. the
one that goes out to the west toward
Rheims. This salient was cut of by
the American Army in less than two
days by quick, sharp blows on both
tanks.
ION the south flank our troops ad-
vanced along a 10-mile front between
Zivray and Feyenhaye, up through the
undulating plain Of the Woevre.
ION the west flank, on an eight
mile front, they advanced across the
heights of the Meuse, ridge which
is six miles wide and broken by deep
branching ravines. BY the evening
Of the first day the south flank had
been driven in five miles and the north
flank three miles. BY evening of the
second day the salient had been wiped
out.
1.-The removal of the salient short
ems the line ~ miles, restores rail
communication between Verdun and
st. Mihiel and Toul and gives very
much better base for future offensive
operations than existed before this
drive began.
1T is to be noted that the German
communique says that they withdrew
quietly from this sector, in accordance
with q carefully arranged plan, but
this does not cover the 10000 men
they left behind. They constitute the
combatant strength Of an entire Ger
man division.
"AM reports from the fighting Sec
tons in France indicate the same
high spirit, the lack Of pessimism
which has always characterized our
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