Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-15
SECRETARY BAKER SAW
BATTLE OF ST. M|H|EL
Wonderful Jash of American Sol
dicrs Swept enemy or
Their Feet.
HUNS EMPLOYED CHILDREN
Matie Them Carry Food in the
Trenches fer German Soldiers.
Visits Villa OF Descendant of Fa.
nous Lafayette.


WASHINGTON. October li.-Secre-
Of the battle OF ST. Mihiel on his ar
rival last night. "Thc battle OF ST.
Mihiel." he said. started the present
triumphant advance OF the allied armies.
From fortified hill overlooking the
battle field saw General Pcrshjng's
army advancing intoS the, salient. while
more than 1000 big guns sflcnced the
German artillery and pointed the wedge
which finally cut on the salient and
rescued from German occupation
French soil which for four years had
been in their possession. The next
day went into ST. Mihiel and saw the
people. a. the end OF their captivity,
singing the national songs OF France
and having festival of thanksgiving
TOT their deliyerance. The blow was
complete and the victory complete"
Before the battle however Secretary
Baker had talked with Count De Cham
5run descendant OF Lafayette and
brother-in law Of Representative Mich
oias i.ongworth. who had a villa in ST.
he would like TO show him that villa
Secretary Baker mentioned Il 10 Gem
eral Pershing. saying he would like to
go INTO me Town %i.n me count as be
i could no be done Then sus sha
4 minute. he said he might arrange n
Eisit FOR the morning. And he ar
: The Germans were forced out that
night. following an unprecedented
S bomb, that Was eontinpgous in
Pals II crest. and the air was shat
.ered So that his railroad car. In WHICH
ne sat swayed and trembled as IL
taking high speed over q rough road
Making entrance into the town only
a tfw ,,ours after the last German lad
l. "a s,f y.Nl1f Y.y
their deliverance ~ beckon!,sss aerons
the Mcuse TO the hmericans and French.
wires and other obstacles tai they
found Il clear road.
The town !!tseit already was gay with
aicpia,ry that aimost every person wore
have gotten them SO soon. and was
tod they always had. had them. hidden
Of the hour OF deliSverance when they
could Hutter them in the sun again.
TALK WITH CHILDREN
RELATIVE TO TREATMENT
+, The ii,tie chiidfen on the streets,
passed and babe us bon Jour i cx-
ing, and Uniform poiiieness Of these
earned that this had been T taught
So that each child would step TO the
curb and placate The invader by salute
ana salutation.
II asked one small boy If the Ger
mans had been cruel. He made the
precise and precicious response that
tneE had been strict, but not unkind
Questioned further, he told me the
Germans had used the small children,
~ the trenches. mainly as food ca:
vie:S."
Secretary Baker told of going with
Count de Chambrun to the iatter's
villa, which they had intact, except for
one wing that/the Germans had used
as Il telephone exchange and hadS,iown
however, was diiapidated through be-
,hs used as S,E-r:,i quarters Tor ref
nGees. OF the serond battle Of ST.
Mihiel Secretary Baker says: For q
lew days there was . lull. Then by :
concerted movement the French and
from the Meuse to the west coverin 2
the ArEonnc forest and later the battle
was taken up on the. entire front
stretching TO the channel.
.ho ,N witnessed the start from one OF
fq nyi:s.r1 q American troops pressing
seemed iinprernablc The stream OF
Ge!mans ai!d The captured war mate
rial told OF the surprise and rout OF
The enemy. The cheers of our soldiers
rs they pressed unto battle and the
pEaNe happiness of our wounded In the
hospitals back OF the lire told the same
II IL Irresistible and it's spirit is UNI
i-cOtlGS.s -