The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-12

The German citadel of Metz lies only
some 10 miles to the northeast of Pont-
aMousson, at the easterly edge of the
salient under attack, and it seems not
beyond probability that this may be
further objective Of the offensive,
should it develop favorably in the crash
ing out or material reduction Of the
salient.
The removal OF this salient, in fact
would seem TO be q necessity before any
drive in great force into German torrj
tory on this front were attempted as
otherwise the German forces to the west
would be left in threatening position
on the left flank of the attacking ar.
mics.
It is known that General Pershing has
q huge American army under his COM
mand and there seems little doubt that
adequate forces would be at the disposal
of Marshal Foeh for an important push
in this sector The St. Mihiel salient is
nearly twenty miles wide at its mouth,
from Fresnes, IL miles southeast Of Yer.
dun, to Pont Mousson, and somewhat
more than Is miles in depth, with its
apex Just to the southwest of st. Mi
hel 1t was driven into the French line
in sudden German eruption southeast
Of Verdun early in the fall of 1914 be-
fore the line had become entirely stabil-
lied after the Marine and Aisne battles.
The French checked the German push
near st. Mihiel and prevented de.
bouching movement on the fanks. The
positions taken up by the Germans were
strong ones, however, and there Is on
record no previous organized attempt
TO reduce this menacing bulge pointing
at the heart Of France between the
fortresses of Verdun and Nancy.
Marshal Fooh has caused the launch
ing of this attack almost coincidenty
with the virtually complete elimination
Of the various salients the Germans
drove into the allied lines in their often
sive during the present fighting year.
The Hindenburg line again had be-
come the German defensive position
along almost its entire length, and the
German defense was stifening material.
ly at all points where the French, Brit
ish and Americans were pressing in upon
them
The German command will now have,
it appears, another problem to meet in
dealing with the outbreak of its foe in
another and comparatively distant quar-.
ter from that in which the bulk Of the
fighting has been done in this years cam.
paign. The question will be, ii seems, if
the reduced German man-power has left
General Ludendorff with forces suffi-
cent to maintain his front from Rheims
to Ypres, and at the same time beat
back a powerful thrust by the allies far
to the southeast on the battlefront.
The Hindenburg line itself, however
already has not proved too strong for eli.
ther the French or the British at some
points in the recent fighting. The Brit
ish preached it on the Queant- Drocourt
line, and to-day there came the official
announcement from London that the
British had made further progress behind
this line in the direction OF Cambria, one
Of the principal German bases in the
north. A strong defensive line had been
taken by the enemy here along the Ca
nal du Nord, but this line now seems
turned on its left flank, as the British
have forced crossing of the canal To
the northwest of Hayrincourt and are
an a position to push up the easterly
bank providing Field Marshal Haig de.
cides to employ his driving force in
this direction
Additional progress also was made by
the British yesterday and last night in
closing in upon st. Quentin, another Of
the Hindenburg strong points. They cap.
tured the towns of Vermand, AttilIy and
Vendelles and advanced beyond Attilly
directly west of st, Quentin as far al
the outskirts of Holnon wood, where
they are not more than three and one.
half miles from st. Quentin.