New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
Americans Dig Germans
Out of Comfortable Un-
derground Strongholds
Staff Is Praised
For Daring Plans
Confidence of Commander
in the Yankees Ability
Amazes French Officer
By Wilbur F orrcst
Especial Gable to The Tribuno)

l.
LORRAINE, Sept. 14.-Onc American
division which took part in the st.
Mihiel battle stands out. This unit
gathered in 2,4oO prisoners, including
forty officers, mostly lieutenants, and
few captains. The latter incident con-
firms the report that high German off
GERS seldom risk their precious hides in
advanced positions, and seems to give
emphasis to another truth---that the
officers lack faith in the German rank
and file.
The German soldiers, according to
every doughboy to whom l have talked
today, stayed in their trenches, firing
their machine guns until the American
waves were close. Then they either
bolted or surrendered. Many were lit
orally dug out of dugouts where they
had barricaded themselves.
The trenches, constructed four years
ago, remained ordinary trenches, but
the dugoonts in some cases were clab
crate and we'll furnished, containing all
the comforts of home. Some had clip
pings and pictures from German news
papers dated 1915 on the walls. One
cartoon depicted Uncle Sam as a Ger
man sympathizcr, surrounded by his
German American nephews. This car
toon miraculously had not been torn
down or defaced in any way since
America entered the war
u. S. Staff Is Praised
The greatest praise was forthcoming
from high French officer for the
American staff's work in the battle
"Your liaison between advancing
units has been almost perfect" he said,
"and it may be added that the entire
battle was typically American. First,
your conception of the plan, which was
that used in the trench warfare of
1914-17, figuring out the artillery prep
araton and. schedule Of advance be-
hind the same kind of barrage we used
before the battles further west, par
took of the newer type of open war
fare
ut required the same American dash
and daring in conception which your
men display on the battlefield l be-
lieve that European generals would
have thought longer and been more
cautious about the same plan The
American advance has been admirable
1t has shown that your generals conf
dence in his men was not misplaced.
Taking trench systems is not the same
as taking open warfare positions"
The great number Of prisoners taken
in the st. Mhiel drive was a source of
some embarrassment to their captors.
One unit of General Pcrshing's forces
had no place to put them. Prisoners
and guards stood in the rain many
hours before the long march to the
French prison camp in the rear began.
One of the most remarkable occur
rences in the war, which throws some
light of the enemy's morale in this
sector, WAS the taking of Count Sches-
ming, German battalion commander.
When found in safe dugout with his
servants, who had packed his baggage
preparatory to being herded in the rear
of the American line, he admitted that
he had planned to give up. The vol
untary surrender of ordinary soldiers
and a few under officers has been com
mon during the last two months, but
| believe this is the first time that :
member of the nobility has in this way
shown loss of faith in the Germans
The Austrian prisoners taken by the
French were Magyars. This element
constitutes the highest remaining
morale in the Austrian armies. Their
presence on this frontier has been
known for some time, and they fought
with more ardor than several of the
German units.
The first days advance practically
settled the fate of the salient before
noon. The heavy rains came in
the Allies favor. The German aero
planes were very active in bombing
Thursday night, in contrast with dur
ing the day, when Franco American
planes held absolute control Of the air.