New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Reveals Position
OF U. S. Troops
pershing's Forces Are
Holding Important
Sector, Supporting
French Army

4 LONDON. Feb. 9.-The Germans, in
q raid north of Xivry, on the Lorraine
front east of foul, have captured some
American prisoners, the Berlin War
Office announced to-day. This was
evidently in connection with some
what extended series of operations.
On the eastern slopes Of the heights
Of Lorraine the statement adds, sur
prise attack against enemy positions
north of Ronvaux was successful. This
rart of the line is held by the French.
Another action on the Lorraine front
is reported by the Paris War Office,
which says that a French detachment
took thirty prisoners and one machine
run in a raid near Bioncourt. which Is
five miles southeast of Hivry.
Tho German statement locates the
American front more exactly than any
crevicus dispatches. Sivry (the French
equivalent Of Xivry) is ten miles due
north of Nancy and approximately the
reame distance east of Toul. AS the
Berlin comnlunioue states that Amerl-
can prisoners were captured north of
Sivry. it is apparent that General Per-
shing's troops hold a trench section on
the extreme eastern tip of the famous
st. Mihiel salient. midway between
Nancy and Metz, the German fortress
rear the Lorraine border, on either
side of which the Germans debouched
f.I1. --.&1
the Battle Of Metz Cor Morhange, as it
is known in France, on August 1923,
1914.
The French early in August pene-
trsted across the Lorraine border as
far as the Metz-Saarburg road, but at
the height of their successes here they
were met by an overwhelming enemy
force, which put the 18th Corps (of
Aarseilles) to tout and thereby com
pelled swift French retreat back
across the frontier to within few
miles Of Nancy and Toul. By the oath
Ct August the French had rallied, and
the battle line then established, from
| the heights of the Meuse southwark
and eastward to the Lorraine border,
has undergone little change in the
three and a half years intervening.
An Important Sector
The part of the line now held by the
American soldiers may be regarded as
one of the most strategically important
sectors on the whole front from Ver-
dun to the Swiss border. On this
stretch of front rests the defence of
Nancy and Toul, which in turn protect
Verdun itself from an outhanking at
tack from the south.
How long the American front is may
only be speculated upon. The only def
mite basis for speculation lies in the
recent dispatch from American head
quarters, which stated that the Ger
mans laid a barrage along several kilo-
metres of the American line. which
would seem to place it as two or three
miles in extent. Neither is it known in
lust what strength General Pershing is
nldlng his front. though it is believed
mat at least one division of troops
would be required to hold such line.
mat the American forces are acting
lhdependently has been intimated in
Dispatches from time to time-that is.
the infantry is being supported by
American artillery and engineering
corps. and possibly by American air
forces.
How Battle Line Runs
at the village of They, six miles
Aor'neast of Sivry, the battle line takes
right angle turn southward, and from
.nencc parallels the Lorraine border
20 20 the Vosges. through which it cuts
oo ,n'o Alsace just west of Colmar and
Mu!hausen. If the German statement
mmaees the American line correctly,
aershlng's men probably face the
,,01y s,,nemy on this narrow salient, from
''any to Craincourt.
le.rshlng's troops first took up their
posi'ions IN the front line trenches
"ssf farroy, on the Rhine Marine Ca
sl, aal, which is twentythree miles south
ba,S, basS OF Sivry. These positions they
on Snd January, for as late as January
~ the American commander reported
iiasualties on that front. 1t was on
ssnuary 80 that the Americans were
NJ Ns reported on the line northeast of
lunaey' when the Germans in raid
faea fT,.aea two Americans and captured
otaT: ,taT: Since then lively activity has
onD's1ned n. along the American front.
y" FEBRUARY 2 the Germans placed
n;.eaVy barrage over the American
;,s'.'ohs, ;rs killing two men and wound
ing nine others.
Americans Destroyed Trenches
straa me American gunners, replying. de-
50 ~. we ehemys front line trenches
On 'Ist "a. ne was unable to reoccupy them.
the ttepruary curtain of fire from
Vented sds"erlcan .,i ant-aircraft guns. pre-
cAss;ua twenty German airplanes from
davs 'heir lines. In the last two
pairo, lene~ed artillery activity and
eN11ol TI encounters have been reported
sos "e Importance of the American sec.
as.; is such that q German offensive
unI;ts't ueIIl'st 1t in the near future is not
\. d;e,as'y;; Military critics have pre-
strona mat the enemy would make a
str;Lps attempt early this spring to
for.ss. heavy blow against Pershinc's
moss3 In an effort to break their
sncoaa .ale and possibly to gain strategic
onsre.s ess on the Lorraine front. Heavier
Ys'auons may be looked for as the
Continued ON Last Pro.