El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-14

THE decided Of the first American army, dev-
rng its first attack in France is forerunner of that
final victory which shah the United States and
This is the first great battle undertaken by American
forces on their initiative in Europe. Seicheprey was
small and desperate encounter defence against German
attack Cantigny was an aggressive action by American
troops and highly successful but It was undertaken
by only small force, one DIVISION ana thaL DIVISION ~as
under allied direction The fighting IN Pcsrdy and on the
Marne all under allied direction and the Americans
were merely reinforcements.
The present attack is a real offensive, assault
launched over wide by American infantry, machine
guns artillery, cavalry and tanks Not less than 2ooOOO
Americans are engaged Gen John J. Pershng, American
coandenchief of the expedonary forces IS directing
fbe attack If is the first time he has personally
Quoted battle Europe. Tie event derived especial sig
nficance from the fact thai Friday Gen Pershngs
birthday big forward thrust Of the Americans was
partly in commemoration Of that anniversary.
The attack evidently been long IN preparation The
American army delivering II had to be assembled and great
stores Of supplies had be gathered at the fighting line
These came up on railroads constructed oy Americans
part Of the great American service Of supply system
tending clear back to the base ports 1t took time TO move
up the and materials ana while that was IN progress
secretary Of Baker left Washington embarked at
Atlantic port with knowledge Of the newspapers Of the
country which reaned from printing the fact and crossed
to France He wanted the satisfaction and the honor Of
witnessing this first great blow by American troops acting
independently and he IN fort at the fighting front
when the American guns concluded their mighty sayos and
the American tanks and infantry dved into German terri
tory-Geman territory that is being restored to
France
Here are few facts not mentioned in dispatches which
are nevertheless of some importance:
The Americans making their attack on the st.
heI salient short distance south of Verdun the great
battle-ground where army Of 10000 persisted in try
ing fulfill the German princes ambition to blast
way through the fortress region and push to Paris
The attack region which the allies have heretofore
considered completely unsuitable for various reasons for
making big offensive remains be whether the
Americans VIII accomplish than the wipng out Of the
salient That much they have already done and that much
important because that sharp salient has existed since
the early days Of the 1t is constant menace to
Verdun.
Il is probable the American program calls for more
lust than eliminating that salient making the line run
straight from Buy, through Chambey to Nomeny This
carries the Yanks right up the German border It puts
under American gunfre the mighty German fortress Of
Metz corresponding to the French fortress Of Verdun
Of the American forces but it is probable that long
bomhardment viii before Gen Pershing undertakes
either frontal assault the fortress capture by work
ing around it and cutting it off.
It is known to be Americas desire to carry the war
into Germany-to fight Germans German soil-and It
viii not be long before PeTshings forces VIII the
border opposite St Mhe unless the enemy holds his line
much strongly than he has up to now given eYi-
de1ce Of doing.
The Germans have not met the American attack with
the vigor they would ike to have employed and for
very simple They had been obliged to most
Of their electives far west and north to meet the Franco
American assaults the arne and the French and
British assaults in Flanders and PcaTdy. Now the
Americans dealing them very hard blow IN region
rather easy defend but where the enemy has very made
quate forces The good strategy Of Gems Foch and Per
shing thus hitting the enemy in weak spot be
evident to every reader.
IF the Americans break through to Metz the wild
est possibilities at opened-provded they can