The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-14
TERRAIN IS LIKE
VIRGINIA VALLEY
Fighting in Country Resemb
ling Area Through Which
Shenandoah Flows.

Washington. SEPT 13.--The terrain
over which Pershngs men are now
striking in cutting off the St Mihiet
salient and possibly preparing the way
for drive on Metz, or the capture
of rich iron and coal fields OF the BrieT
Basin. is compared by officers Of the
National Geographic society 10 our
own picturesque Shenandoah Valley
of Virginia
The region lying In the pockets
formed by the confluence of the Mouse
and Moselle rivers however. is not
nearly as mountainous as the historic
Virginia valley and is more populous.
The scene Of the present fighting is
tdescribed az rolling, undulating
country This highest hills do not rise
beyond 500 feet The whole area IS
dotted with villages not more than
two or three miles apart, with vary
ing population Of from 100 TO 800
The point is emphasized that tho
French country presents no unusual
natural obstacles to seriously hinder
or stay the Americans in their present
movement to pocket the enemy in the
vicinity of St Mihiel, preparatory to
further important developments. An
defensive trast Of thick woodland lies
east Of the Meuse, developing into
a dense forest north and east of st
Mihiel
Skirt Wooded Area.
The eastern line of this forest run!
from Herbeuville past Thillot L
Nigneulles II is evident from a glanct
at the war map THAT General Perish
ing in striking northeast from III
!. vicinity of Seicheprey toward Nonsart
land Thiaucourt, planned to skirt til,
edge of the forest. rather than plumg,
through IL The dash OF the Ameri
cans from the vicinity of Fresnes to
ward Thillot and Maizeray also i
=. along lines outside OF the wooded zone
Hence. the movement or our troop
thus far has been in comparativel
: open though billy country
Throughout the area except in n
= forests. the landscape is iiteraIl
. studded with small villages and line
! with inter communicating highways
ST Mihiel itself is located on tn
. right hank OF the Neuse and the Cana
! nei Este It is twenty-three mile
. from Verdun by rail. Its chief fam
= rests upon the fact that it is the sit
Of the founding of the Benedictin
Abbey OF st Mihiel in 7o9 The pres
= lent Abbey buildings were constructe
, lin the seveteentn century
No Natural Obstacles.
= If the German salient is wiped ou
: land progress is attempted towar
y Metz. the Americans would encounte
: no natural difficulties until they reach
: ed the general line OF the Moselle
. lalong the western bank of which
: comparatively dense and continuou
:, forest extends from a point east o
Briey. along the river as far sout
. as Pont-au Nousson The intervenln
= country also is dotted with towns an
- small hillside farms, Metz lies at In
confluence Of the MoseNe and Sell
=, rivers. 1t is built partly between tn
: two rivers and islands Of the Mosell'
: The French border is about elepe
: miles distant at the nearest points
y It's fortifications extend along hot
rivers and consist OF works orginall
: begun BY The French and complete
= Ivy the Germans. with. Of course n
addition Of new and extensive moder
- defenses No one knows lust hoy
elaborate these recent additions are.
Metz has been chiefly Il fortres
since 1913 II played an importar
role in the campaigns against Napc
n Icon in 1874 ard 1915 The German
I took il October 90 1870. Up to I'll
! time of the present war the street
lhore German and French names an
!, 1.-THE city contained statues of Marsh
n Nev as well as Of Emperor William
z. and Emperor Frederick.