The Washington herald., 1918-09-16
NEWS
TO HIDE PLAN
OF METZSIEGE
Strict Censorship Necessary
to Insure Success of
Bombardment.
FORT WILL BE GASSED
Hun Stronghold to Be Made
Uhtenable by Kill
ing Fumes.

The restrictions which. II is re-
ported by cable. Cen. Persh.ng is
throwing around his immediate
mcyenonts are necessary according
to staf officers here, to screen plans
OF even greater military signif-
icance than the attack on the St.
Mihicl salient.
These instructions of Gen. Perish
ing are compared with the order
issued by Gen. Haig at the time he
was preparing his first drive
against Cambria, which burst on
the Germans like a meteor and sur
prised the German army with the
forward movement of the tanks
without artillery preparation.
1t is noted, however. that Gen.
|Pershing puts no limitations on the
news of the capture of towns and
the position of his army when given
out at his headquarters.
The particular action which, STAFF
officers think is demanded by the
relative position of the advancing
army of Gen. Pershing and that of
the Germans falling hack on Metz
and in general in the valley of the
Moselle. is the siege of Metz. This
fortress has, fortifications for six
or seven miles around 1t. 1t was
thought impregnable during the
Franco-German war. but it was in
vested by the Germans with their
superior siege guns and Marshal
Bazaine was forced to surrender
with about 100000 men.
Reduction Of Metz Necessary.
There appears to be only one opinion
here, in the. absence of official, an
nouncement of Gen. Pershing's In.
tentions. and that r. that the reduc-
ton of Metz will be necessary. IL the
general Upward movement of the
American afmy operating in the siege
is to be realized. s.r
The whole spirit of Gen. March's
statements TO the press Saturday was
that there was to be drive after drive.
with the American army sweeping on
into Germany. The plan for the ad-
vance through the ST. Mihiel salient
was worked out by Pershing's staff.
and that obviously included the TAX
ing of Metz. That can only be ac-
complished, II is stated, by a batter
| ing Of the outer works by field and
siege guns.
The staff says that stupendous
movement like that of the obliteration
OF the St Mihiel salient would no,
have been undertaken without a def
mite plan for the capture OF Metz
which is a cheval on the Moselle. But
II can be taken from either side. IL Il
stated. II Is pointed out that the re-
sistance would be futile against the
siege guns OF mighty caliber, which
II is known the American army has
for this purpose. t-
No Defense Against Gas.
Great stress is laid here on the fact
that there is no known artificial forti-
fcation which can resist the attack
of gas shells. 1T Is particularly noted
I in this connection that gas shells have
not always been effective against
trenches because the range Is always
matter of delicate calculation. Tha,
dificulty does not beset the artil-
lereists, however. in delivering gas ol
any other shells against a fort whose
position and distance are known te
mathematical certainty. The seige
of Metz by Gen. Pershing may there.
fore be a totally different operation
from that of Won .Moltke's artillery
against that citadel 1t will be quite
different even from that of the bat.
tering of the defenses Of lege by
the German big guns at the opening
of the war.
The task ahead Of Gen. Pershins
now seems to be TO stabilize his army
with special reference to the capture
of Metz. opinion seems to be gaining
ground that II would not be good
military policy for him to advance
and leave an army of say. 100000 Ger.
mems in the fortresses who would bs
In position to make q flank attack
l. There is. however, also the opinion
that as soon as the bombardment ol
Metz begins with the gas shell, ths
fortress will be untenable. and thai
there will be a further German re-
treat This Is precisely what will hap
|pen to the remaining massed German
forces in another part of the wal
theater after the reduction Of st