Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-09-19
American First Army Wipes Out
the St Mihiel Salient East
of verdun.
BAGS ABOUT 10000 HUNS
French Aid in Attack That Threatens
the Briey Iron Fields-Germans
in Picardy Trying to Halt Re.
treat Approximately On
Hindenburu Line.
BY EDWARD w. PlckARp.


The American First army, General
Pershing commanding, started the first
great wholly American offensive
Thursday, attacking on both sides of
the st. Mihiel salient southeast of
verdun. The French assisted by at
tacking on the point of the salient, hut
the operation was planned by the
American staff and executed by Amer
ican officers and TROOPS.
By Friday night the operation, so
far as the salient was concerned.
seemed practically completed, for the
big wedge had been tlattened out and
the new line established by the Ameri-
cans ran from Pont-a- -Mousson down
the Moselle to Pagny, thence across the
Woevre plain to Hattonville and along
the heights of the Merse to tlv, old
line in front Of Verdun. The fact that
fully 10000 prisoners We're taken
and that the towns and railways aban-
doned by the enemy had not been de-
stroyed made ridiculous the German
official statement that the retirement,
(Which had been under consideration
for some years, was completed without
interference"
This American drive threatens the
German possession of the great iron
fields of the Briey basin west and
northwest Of Metz.
After terrific artillery preparation
which for four hours smothered the
entire region within the German lines
with shells, the Yanks went over the
top exactly at five o'clock, following
:, a. rolling barrage timed for an adj
vance of 100 meters every 40 minutes.
Great numbers of tanks supported
them and cleared the way by crushing
numerous concrete machine gun shell
tiers and breaking down the elaborate
wire defenses. American aviators in
focks quickly drove away the few Hun
:,irmen in sight and thereafter del
uged the enemy supply centers. mu-
milton dumps and hangars with
bombs, while the observation planes
directed the work of the artillery.
Everything moved like clockworll and
the troops speedily gained their oh
jectives and went on to the next ones.
Village after village was taken and
by Friday tie cavalry had advanced
far into the center Of the salient and
occupied strong positions.
Having given up all the ground they
won in their great spring drive. and
finding themselves back on the old
Hindenburg line, and In some places
well behind it, the Germans decided tc
stop their retreat for while. Marshal
Toch did not fully assent to this deci
sion, but powerful concentrations Of
Hun artillery and reserves in strong
positions, coupled with torrentia
rains throughout Picardy, brought the
allied offensive almost to temporary
standstill. Not that the fighting by
any means ceased, for the French ant
British kept pressing forward. though
more slowly, and the Germans deliv
cred desperate counter-attacks, which
In almost every instance resulted only
in severe losses for them.
It is the opinion of expert observer.
that the halt of the Huns approximate
ly on the Hindenburg line will be onl.
temporary. Indeed, 1t is believed the,
cannot stay there long If the!
would. For many. weeks they have
been hastily building new lines of de
fense farther edst, and Marcel Hutii
in the Echo de Paris says they are nov
constructing a supreme line from Ant
warp to Metz and are putting the Ant
werp forts in defensive condition
Their present line depends on Deuai
sGmbrai. ST. Quentin and I.aon, ant
farther to the sontlie,lsr on the CheiniI
- 4; Kl0l,at nlre.aslv ~ \ ~