Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1918-09-21
American First Army Wipes Out
the st MihieI Salient East
of verdun.
BAGS ABOUT 10000 HUNS
French Aid In Attack That Threatens
the Briey Iron Fieids-Germans
In Picardy Trying to Halt Re-
treat Approximately on
Hindenburq Line.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

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
lacking on the point of the salient, hut
the operation was planned by the
American staff and executed by Amer
lean officers and troops.
by Friday night the operation, so
far as the salient was concerned,
seemed practically completed, for the
big wedge had been flattened 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 Nationwide and along
the heights of the Mouse to the old
line In front of Verdun. The fact that
fully 10000 prisoners were 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 a terrific artillery preparation
which for four hours smothered the
with shells, the Yanks went over the
top exactly at five o'clock, following
a rolling barrage timed for an ad-
vance of 100 meters every 40 minutes.
Great numbers of tanks supported
them and cleared the way by crushing
tiers and breaking down the elaborate
wire defenses. American aviators in
fiocks quickly drove away the few Hun
airmen in sight and thereafter del
uged the enemy supply centers, mu-
milton dumps and hangers with
bombs, while the observation planes
directed the work of the artillery.
Everything moved like clockwork and
the troops speedily gained their OBJ
jectives and went on to the next ones.
Village after village was taken and
by Friday the 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 1t, the Germans decided to
| stop their retreat for while. Marshal
| Foch did not fully assent TO this deci'
| sien. 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 b.
any means ceased, for the French ant
British kept pressing forward, though
more slowly, and the Germans deiiv
cred desperate counter-attacks, which
in almost every instance resulted onl,
in severe losses for them.
II is the opinion of expert observer.
that the halt of the Huns approximate
" on the Hindenburg line will he 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
Tense farther east, and Marcel HutiI
in the Echo de Paris says they are nov
constructing supreme line from Ant
werp to Metz and are putting the Ant
| werp forts in defensive condition
Their present line depends on Douai
| Camh,ai. 81. Quentin and Laon, ant
! farther - he southeast. on The Cllemil
- De-. Donai already was be