The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-12
PERSHINC STRIKES
ON BOTH SIDES OF
ST,MIHIEL SALIENT.
French Troops Are Taking
Part in the Attack.
Front Attacked Is Just East of
Fortress of Verdun.
ON A FRONT OF TWENTY MILES
Twelve Miles on South Side and
Eight on West.
First Wave of Americans Met
Little Resistance.
A BLOW TOWARD THE RHINE?
May Be Beginning of Great
Invasion.
Immediate Object Is To Pinch
OFF Salient.
Twelve Miles on South Side and
Eight on West.
First Wave of Americans Met
Little Resistance.
A BLOW TOWARD THE RHINE?
May Be Beginning of a Great
Invasion.
Immediate Object Is To Pinch
OFF Salient.

American Forces on the Lorraine
Front, Sept. 12.-French and Ameri-
can forces this morning launched an
attack against the German positions
on both sides of the st. Mihiel salient.
The weather is fine. The attack
made by the French and the Ameri-
cans was a most daring one and so
far has been successful.
The attack was preceded by bar
rage lasting four hours.
On Both Sides OF Salient.
The attack on the southern side of
the st. Mihiel salient was made along
a distance of twelve miles.
The attack on the western side was
on a front of eight miles.
There has been a great concentra-
tion of Franeo-Arnerican artillery and
entente airplanes are operating in
large numbers.
American forces this morning
launched an attack on the German
positions. At 8 o'clock they had pro-
gressed generally along the line. Some
prisoners were taken at different
parts of the sector.
First Wave Met Little Resistance.
The first wave of American troops
met with little resistance and at
o'clock the second American wave
was in possession of several points of
the German first line.
The Germans now are falling back
on the front on each side of the st.
Mihie1 salient.
Tho undoubtedly suspicious of the
intention of the Americans in this re-
gion, the Germans were. unaware at
the time of the direction of the at
tack. The American.troops are all in
tensely eager and are fighting mag
nificently.
Total Front 20 Miles.
fBy tie Associated Fress.)
American and French troops today
began an offensive on a twenty mile
front in Lorraine near the German
border.
The movement evidently is aimed
primarily at the elimination of the
famous st. Mihiel salient, which for
more than four years has projected
into the allied line southeast of Ver-
dun.
Attack on Both Sides.
The attacks were launched on both
sides of the Salient-on a twelve-mile
front on the south and an eight-mile
front on the westerly side. The as
the latest reports.
A barrage lasting several hours pre-
ceded the thrust. Heavy concentra-
tions of French and American ,artil-
lery and airplanes had been effected.
The fire poured IN upon the Germans
from the allied guns was a terrific
one, while the German reply, on the
whole. was weak. There have been
many predictions in unofficial quar-
ters recently that an American Of
30
witnessed this fall and Lorraines has
been mentioned as one of the most
probable fields for the attack. The
German citadel of Metz lies only some
fifteen miles to the northeast of Pont-
A-Mousson. at the easterly edge of
the salient under attack. and it seems
not beyond probability that this may
be a further objective of the offensive
should it develop favorably in the
crushing out or material reduction of
the salient.
Salient Protects Hun Frontier.
The removal of this salient would,
in fact, seem to be a necessity before
any drive in great force into German
territory on this front were attempt
ed. as otherwise the German forces
TO the west would be left in threat
ening position on the left flank of the
attacking armies.
It is known that General Pershing
has a huge American army under his
command and there seems little doubt
that adequate forces would be at the
disposal of Marshal Foch for an i'm
portant push in this sector were the
opening moves to develop a suita BILE
opening The St. Mihiel salient is
nearly TWEEN miles wide at its mouth.
from Fresnes, twelve miles southeast
of Verdun, to Pont-A- -Mousson and
somewhat more than fifteen miles in
depth, with its apex lust to the south
west of ST. Mihiel. 1t was rriven into
the French line in sudd German