Evening journal., 1918-09-14
Continued from page onc.y

neulles, where they met the other
Americans smashing in from the south,
thus completing the closing Of the sack.
Our front now runs through NOrrOy,
Jaulny, Xammes, st. Benoit, Hatton-
Vile, Hannonville and Herbeuville. All
the territory behind that line is under
control Of the Americans.
The number OF prisoners and guns
taken as Pershing's troops swept on in
creased with great rapidity. All our
obiectives were attained, according to
schedule
Were going strong" was the re-
port from a certain already famous di-
vision regarding the progress Of its at
tack shortly after the offensive open
ed. From the start OF the drive il was
evident the prisoners would number
thousands. When 5000 TO 1000 had al
ready been counted, reports came ir
TO the headquarters from all directions
telling Of groups Of 200, 800 and 800
more on their way 10 the rear. Per
shins's latest official gave the num-
Der Of prisoners counted at 1890
Eighteen hundred prisoners, includ-
ing eight Cfllcors were taken when
rhiaoourt fell. Eighteen officers were
included in another bag. Numerous
machine guns have been seized. One
infantry detachment charged and cap
tured an entire battery OF field guns
which were firing on them. TWO six
inch cannon were also taken indicat-
ing that the gun haul is undoubtedly
heavy.
One tank captured a battery Of field
pieces, five machine guns and 70 men.
Sergeant Graham sat on top Of the
tank during this operation. Some Ger
man batteries when they fell into the
hands OF the Americans were still in
their camoufaged positions. The Ger
mans had not had enough time to at
tempt to remove them Refugees are
being sent back from several towns
after remaining in them during the
four year German occupation.
Secretary Baker, General Pershing
and General Petain entered st. Mihiel
shortly after the enemy had fled from
10.
y The inhabitants greeted them with
enthusiasm. They said the Germans
had carried Off q large number Of men
and boys aged &c TO i5 The two banks
in the city were looted by the enemy.
Practically all the houses were plum
dered. Inhabitants said the Germans
had squeezed them for contribution
Of a million francs.
SO fast did the Americans travel when
they hit the German line that all OBJ
iectives designated for the first day
were reached early in the afternoon. In
that short time the salient was pushed
in four or i've miles along its whole
front.
The effect Of Pershing's victory Is 10
free Nancy, a little Paris Of France,
from the menace Of German guns for
the first time since 1914. II also opens
the important Nancy-Verdun railroad,
greatly strengthening Allied communi-
cations.
Prisoners reported they had been or
dered 10 permanently hold a line north |
OF Pannes, II possible. otherwise to |
withdraw 10 the Hlndenburg line posi-
tiOns. Shortly after they had received ]
this command the Americans captured |
Pannes.
Despite the mud, the American tank
crews made an excellent showing on |
their first appearance. The preceded |
the infantry attacks at several differ /
ent points. They went smashing !
through heavy belts Of barbed wire. /
and crawled over German trenches mat
had stood for four years. Afterward /
they aided in mOpping up the numer-
Gus captured towns. The colonel OF
The tank fleet was so anxious 10 fight
aboard one OF his land battleships that
his superior detailed two other officers
TO keep him from so doing.
Allied supremacy In the air was
quickly won and remains ours A heavy
rain fell, but in spite If this, the
French and American airplanes dOmi-
mated the sky. When the Boches at
tempted to send up two observation
ballons they were quickly shot down.
As the German lines began giving
way, explosions were heard in the rear.
They continued all during tha first day
Most Of them were dpe 10 the accurate
firing OF our artillery. All night our
kept up their incessant she'll
ing OF the enemy's back areas.
On the western side OF the salient
where a sharp wedge was driven In 10
meet the main assault coming up from
the south and east, steady progress was
made through the most Ciffcult fight
Ing country and against strong resist
lnce n
The effect OF the German defeat was
felt even on the eastern side OF the
NiOselle River, where enemy troops
were forced to ey0cuate the bend in
the stream. American patrols occupied
the abandoned trenches.
BY the strategy Of the American at
tacll' the Germans were Obliged 10
evacuate Montsec without a fight to
keep from b ing cut Off. Montsec is a
huge peak dominating the entire terri
tory. French patrols climbed TO Its
summit after the enemy fed. 10 was
reported that great quantities OF sup
plies were found intact and 1t was eX-
pected many guns would be discovered
there.
As tney fell back the Germans start {
I'd big fires in Pannes and in Vigneulles
Wood wher they had supplies they
could not remove.
Fighting in the pocked was far differ
mt from that which the Americans en-
in the rolling Marine region.
Jold. peltin rain rendered the ditll- {
,ulties created by the trench lines even
,reater. Beyond Panes many sections {
we're tangled with barbed wire bar
iers. The country Itself is most diff
lcult for flghting, with high peaks
axes. marshes and the toughest kind Z
4 terrain. But none Of these obstruc-
ions stopped the Americans. When a
ertain brigade was engulfed in silence
developed that It was going ahead
0 fast the telephone and wireless men