Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
| OUR FORCES CLOSE
TO GERMAN BORDER
None Of the Allied Troops So
Near Except the French =
in Alsace.

French Lorraine, in which il is now
officially admitted that the American
troops are holding trenches, includes the
bulk of the Departments OF the Meuse,
with capital at Verdun; Meurthe-et-Mo-
selle, whose capital is Nancy, and Vosges,
with the capital at Epinal IL is presumed,
however, that the American positions lie
IN the last two departments only. This
region, composed for the most part OF
hllly and broken ground, lies, then, To
the east and south Of the French lines
around Verdun, and to the northwest OF
the mountainous districts Of the Vosges,
on the border between Alsace and French
territory
In the mountains the nature of tho
country makes the movement OF large
bodies Of troops impossible; so, while
the French early in August, 1914. pushed
their line slightly across the border INTO
territory occupied by the Germans since
IS |, there have been no engagements Of
moment here, the French invasion OF Al
SAGE qt the hegiDning OF the war having
been based on Belfort, ut the southern
end OF the German French frontier.
The fighting around Verdun which rose
TO its height in the great German attack
from February TO August, 1916, has been
going on intermittentiy ever since. From
81 Mihiel. on the east bank Of the Meuse
south of Verdun. the front breaks away al
most due cast. crossing the Moseilc at
Poni-a-sFousson. north OF Nancy, which
| was the scene of hard fighting in the spring
OF 1915. This town is presumably still
held hy the French. The American sector
probably lies between Nancy and 1t. Die,
south of which the mountains preclude
.nr, large rnovprnani of tr00rlg
SCENE or DESPERATE rIcTT1NG
Indication Of the presence of American
troops in this region WIS first gwen when
the German Army Headquarters announo-
ed on Nov 3 that North American
soldiers had been captured II. trench
raid the total American casuaities beng
three killed, FIVE wounded and tweiye
prisoners on the Rhine-Marne Canal,
which Joins the River Meurthc between
Nancy and funeville' =.
This strip between Nancy and ~. Die,
perhaps hfty miles IN length, offers an
opportunity for & stroke a. some q me
rnGst important Of Germany'a hnee ~
communication, bat since September
Ioft II has been the scene Of comparative
H. lI,tle fighting. This was duo no doubt.
to The fact that German strategy had
shifted tho center of tho way ia the west
10 Belgium and Northern France, and
that IL was consequently of the FIRST mn
p6rtanoe 10 push back the German lines
IN those regions.
The occupation Of Belgium, too, gave
the Germans possession Of communication
limos running to the Westphalian munl-
tions district and Prussia, which We're OF
greater value for the reinforcement Of the
bulk OF their lines than those'eaCing toward
Lorraine Nevertheless. despite the dltfI-
cult country and the Importance of the
German northern positions, the American
hines are still starting point from which
could be aimed an attack at the great
German frontier fortress Of Metz ana other
points Of considerable strategic value.
Lorraine was the scene OF desperate
fighting at the beginning OF the war.
After brisk engagements IN the opening
days OF August, 1914, N which the ter
mans who had crossed the French frontier
were driven back into their own territory,
the French advanced from Nancy, ap-
rarentIv in considerable forces striking at
the net work Of strategic railways and
mobilization centres which the Germans
had built up in the eastern parts OF LoT-
raine. annexed ID 1871. The German
covering forces gave ground, and On aug.
lgthe French had reached NoThange. near
Bensdorf, an important railroad centre.
Here. however, they were attacked by
greatly superior forces under Crown
Prince Rupprecht Of Bavaria. who won his
FIRST claim 70 distinction IN the battles
Of Aug. 20 and q. in which the French
suffered their first serious defeat OF the
var