South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-05

auction OF the salient, mentioning
the operations OF the 26th, 3rd. 4th,
SIND, 32nd. and 2Sth divisions. With
the situation on the Marine front
thus relieved, Gen. Pershing writes.
he could turn 20 the organization OF
the first American army and the re-
duction OF the St Mihiel salient.
long planned as the initial purely
American enterprise. A troop con-
centration. aided by generous con-
tributions of artillery and air units
10y the French, began. involving the
movement, mostly at night, Of 600,-
600 men. A sector reaching from
Port sur Seille, east of the Moselle,
westward through St Mihiel 10 Yer
Gun and later enlarged 20 carry IL
20 the edge of the forest Of Argonne.
was taken over. the second colonial
French. holding the tip OF the salient
opposite st. Mihiel, and the French
18th corps. on the heights above
Nerdun being transferred 10 Gen
Pershing's command.
The com ined French, British and
American air forces modified for
the battle. the report says. was the
largest aviation assembly ever en-
gagged on the western front up 20
that time in a single operation.
The st. Mihiel Drive.
OF the reduction Of the st. Mihiel
salient. Gen. Pershing says:
After four hours artillery prep
aration the seven American divisions
in the front line advanced at a.
m. on Sept u. assisted by a limited
number Of tanks manned partly by
Americans and partly by the
French. These divisions. accom-
panied by groups of wire cutters
and others armed with bargalore
torpedoes. went through the success
sive bands Of barbed wire that pro-
tected the enemy's front line and
support trenches, in irresistible
waves on schedule time, breaking
down all defense of an enemy de
mOralized by the great volume of
our artillery fire and our sudden
approach out OF the fog.
our first corps advanced TO
Thiaucourt, while our fourth corps
curved back TO the southwest
through Nonsard. The second col
onial French corps made the slight
advance required of il on very diff
cult ground, and the fifth corps took
it's three ridges and repulsed a coun-
ter attack A rapid march brought
reserve regiments of a division Of
the fifth corps into Vigneulles in the
early morning, where it linked up
with patrols Of our fourth corps,
closing the salient and forming =
new line west Of Thiaucourt TO Pig
neulles. and beyond Fresnes-e en- o
Woevre.
AT the cost Of only 1000 casual
ties. mostly light. we had taken
5000 prisoners and AS guns, a
great quantity of material. released
the inhabitants of many villages
from enemy domination, and estab-
lished our lines in a position to
threaten Metz.
This signal success Of the Amer
lean first army in it's first offensive
was Of prime Importance. The al
lies found they had a formidable
army to aid them, and the enemy
reckon with"
The report shows for the first
time officially. that with this bril-
liantly executed coup, Gen. Perish
inEs men had cleared the way for
the great effort OF the allies and
American forces TO win a conclusive
victory. The American army moved
at once toward it's browning achieve
ment, the battle Of the Meuse.
Describes Mighty Battle.
The general tells a dramatic story
OF this mighty battle in three dis
tinct phrases. beginning on the night
Of Sept. p, when Americans quickly
took the places Of the French on
the thinly held line OF this Ion@.
quiet sector. The attack opened on
Sept 90 and the Americans drove
through entanglements, across No
mans land to take all the enemy's
first line positions Closing the
chapter. Gen. Pershing says:
ON Nov. g a division Of the first
corps reached a point on the Meuse
opposite Sedan. % miles from our
line of departure. The strategical
goal which was our highest hope
was gained. We had cut the enemy's
main line Of communications, and
nothing but surrender or an armis-
tice could save his army from COM
plete disaster.
I'm all 40 enemy divisions had
been used against US in the Meuse-
Argonne battle. Between Sept. 26
and Nov. We took 26.O59 prison
ers and 46S guns on this front. Our
divisions engaged were the 1st, End.
3rd. 4th, 5th. 26th, 2sth. 29th.
32nd, 33rd. 35th. 37th. 42nd,
18th. 18th. 18th. S0th. SIND, seth,
Goth and 91st. Many Of our divi-
sions remained in line for a length
OF time that required nerves of steel,
while others were sent in again after
only a few days OF rest. The 1st.
5th. 26th. 42nd. nth, sOth. seth and
Goth were in the line twice AL
though some Of the divisions were
fighting their first battle, they soon
became equal 10 the best"
The Commander-in-ch chief does not
lose sight OF the divisions operating
with French or British armies dur
ing this time. He tells of the work
OF the second CORPS. COMPRISING the