The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-16
AMERICANS ARE
ON FRONTIER 0F
GERMAN EMPIRE
Have Pushed Three Miles Fur
ther Toward Metz.
SHOOTING INTO GERMANY
Metz Is Six Miles inside the German
Border and Artillery Of CITY Now
In Action.

With the American Army on the
Lorraine Front, Sept, IS, S'p m. (Ay
The Associated Press --lJindered
only slightly by the German artillery
and machine guns, Pershing's army
today continued the consolidation OF
their lines facing the recently strength
ened Hindenburg defenses. Addition
al territory was brought in as The long
line was Strengthened, the American
troops on the extreme right swinging
along the Mosele river for the great
est gains
1t was not a day of battle for more
ground, however, so much as for the
establishment Of a more definite front.
Notwithstanding the evidence that
much time has been spent in improy
ing the Cd Hindenburg line, it would
not surprise military critics here if il
were yielded without great struggle
the Germans preferring to sacrifice
even their old position to the obyi-
Gus determination Of the Americans
TO advance beyond the line
Fires were observed in DOmmartin
LoChaussee today In almost every
case where evacuation has been pian-
ned the Germans have carried out
systematic destruction OF certain
NJ 90. Il -. 81
wooden buildings and barracks
While large forces OF Germans are
retreatins, accompanied By long
trains OF supplies and some of The
heavier guns, there is evidence OF
Preparedness on the, part of the Cor
man command to make most ddtef
mined resistance along the Hinden.
burg line.
New wire has been strung in enor-
nous quantities in big stretches far
to the rear and in front OF the old
trenches, which have been brought
brought up to date and are supported
up to date and are supported
by new concrete dugouts at short in.
teryals
The aviators who reported these
conditions returned with maps show
ing we'll prepared defences.
The big iron mines near Briey, an
important center of the German mill
tary forces are ieopardized and oven
Metz one of the most strongly forii.
fed points behind the enemy lines is
menacod II is expected however
that no immediate struggle for its
possession Will take place
The clearing up Of the woods and
ravines was the most important part
of the work carried out by the Amcr.-
can troops Saturday Where the bar.
rage had caught the enemy away
from the shelter Of dugouts and tren.
ches. piles Of dead were encountered
by the scout patrols. and in many
places additional supplies OF ordnance
and ammunition we're discovered. I'm
at least one case a battery of German
7Is was used by the Americans
against the enemy, although most
guns were sufficiently damaged To
make them unfit for use at present
Great numbers OF machine guns
with plenty OF ammunition. were
found, and they were promptly turned
ON the enemy.
The most stubborn action today
was feht AZ about dawn for the pos
session of a big gun, posted in an cv
cellcnt position in an old quarry II
was so placed that the allied artillery
FIRE could not reach It Infantry trie.
to force the positions but me, with q
temporary repulse. Shortly af,or
wards the Americans came back cap
tured the gun and even captured pris
oners from counterng force
Three Other counte~ attacks h
same neishborhood were smashed.
Among the captives today we're sew
eral Belgians. whom the Germans sat
been working much the. same a
slaves They had contrved to leav
their guards during the retreat an,
were waiting for the Americans
II rs now definitely established tha
the Germans did not expect the Amc,
cans before September l5. cvcn The
It was not blieved that there would o
an attack from The west flank. cxcer
light one In q diversion.
Many prisoners were added to a
ready large list Whom the pockc
closed Friday the line was thin 10
some hours, and through the holes
large part Of the enemy managed 9
escape Those who remained benin
offered almost NO resistance whe
the French line moved up on IN
south
one or two burst of machine gu
Gre. then came The cry of "Hamerad
as ther scrambled out of thcir she
ters VITA urralsed hands The prise
ers I'm nose cases appeared we
pleased with their capture.
BRITISH TROOPS ADVANCE LIN