South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-22

Tou and verdun, broken through the dixie, captured
the little city Of st. Mihiel Meuse with the
strong Fort Camp des ROMANS above it. and had
forced the passage Of the Meuse. On sept 20 ST
Mihiel fell and the kaiser sent his wife,
which thrilled all Germany.
But once more William destined TO be disap-
pointed. Jofre had already begun his great turning
movement between the Disc and the Somme and in
short order all available German troops had to be hur
ried from Lorraine Pcardy. Artos and presently
Flanders Here an admirable example of the
aue of the initiative loire had won il i'm the rrin
cipai field at the battle Of the Marine. Before Moke
could regain it by operation field still subsid
ary Joffre employed it, still in the main field, and
Moltke had to drop his little strategy and
westward to prevent Jofre from reaching the flank
and of all the German armies north of the Asne
ST. MIHIEL DISAPPEARS
FROM BATTLE NEWS
As a result St Mihel disappeared from the battle
news, and when the lines at last stabilized the Ger
occupied in this region a salient something like
larger and far more defensble because while Ypres
the kaiser's troops sat the Messines' Whesheet"
ridge spectators sit raised seats at stadium,
and looked down upon the British I'm Ypres the Ger
st. N1ihiel occupied a portion of the heights
&c the Meuse and at Hattonchate the highest ot
az the nils nearly l4oO feet above sea level ana
sweeping the whole Woevre plain. A of outlying
hills to the south, moreover gave the Germans pro
tected valley by which to reinforce their and
munton them. and along this valley from Thaucourt
where il existing railway they constructed
strategic railroad to facilitate transport Despite it's
odd shape the character Of the country
st Mihel position of the defensive along
whole line, the French presently to find out
naly undertaken in conjunction with operation TO
the north, designed enveop Verdun tt had
succeeded but by the occupation OF St Mhiel
!tue village OF OhauNronCourt across the river the
Germans had cut the Toul-Verdun railway one the
lines serving Verdun, which vital
fence In the fashion the crown prince al the
north. while had checked, come south far
enough so that when the moment came he could with
his long range guns forbid to French the use OF
the Verdun-Pars railroad and then Verdun would be
without any adequate rail communication.
FOUNDATION OF
GERMAN ATTACK.
Here was the foundation OF the German attack up
Verdun in February, 1916. In addition holding
Fort Camp des Romans. the Germans likewise with
heavy artillery. commanded the Nancy railway
north OF Commercy, but this less serious
French. because detour line could be constructed
Goudrecourt. but at the least this added % 80
miles distance between Paris and the eastern
frontier and imposed certain handcaps transport.
Recognizing the threat OF the St Mniel salient 10
Verdun Joffre, the moment his hands were free
February, 1915. pinch the salient by
attack @ its northern side. where II down
off the heights OF the Neuse into the Woevre plain.
had then the lighting about Les Eparges. which.
after heavy losses. 70 nothing. IN the summer
Jofre tried again this time above Pont-a-MoussOn
and the line between the NoseIe and the Neuse.
the winter ii essential detail in the Yer
dun offensive OF Falkenhayn
After Verdun had been saved the French built
new railroad from Barbecue straight up verdun,
range OF German artillery and the St Mihel
its chief value II still a nuisance.
the French were unable the pay the
gain would be sufficient TO make the investment
profitable. result s.. Mihiel became quiet
and such it used the training front for
several OF American divisions when began
get TO France in some strength.
When American troops in large numbers began 70
be available however. ST Mihiel assumed different
aspect for the allied commander chief. could
afford 10 spend casualties in taking the position.