New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Front Is StraightenedWit
out Much Resistance
From the Huns
Hindenburg Defences
May Soon Be Yielded
Retreating Forces Set Fire
to Vast Stores and
Buildings
(By The Associated Press)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE LORRAINE FRONT, Sept. is
(S p. M -Hindered only slightly by
the German artillery and machine guns,
Pershing's army to-day continued the
consolidation Of its lines facing the re-
Gently strengthened Hindenburg de-
fences. Additional territory was
brought in as the long line was
Strengthened, the American troops on
the extreme right swinging along tae
Moselle River for the greatest gains.
In the edge of wood where the
Germans had concentrated there was
some smart machine gun resistance Of
fercd, but q smashing artillery fire ST.
fenced the enemy. A few additional
prisoners were taken
1t was rot day of battle for more
establishment Of moro definite front
Notwithstanding the evidence that
much time has been spent in improv-
ing the old Hindcnburg line, it would
were yielded without great struggle,
the Germans preferrng to sacrifice
even their old position to the obvious
determination of the Americans to ad-
vance beyond the line.
Fires were observed in Dommartn-
la-ChaussGe day. In almost every
case where evacuation has been
planned the Germans have carried out
a systematic destruction of certain
parts of their stores, and with them
wooden buildings and barracks.
Only One Counter Attack
Vilcey- -surTrey and Norroy, near
the Moselle, were included in the ter
ritory regained by the Americans when
the line, stretched from the Hinden-
burg positions, was swung slightly up
ward on the extreme right.
The extension Of the line north of
Jaulny added seventy-two guns to the
captured ordnance, bringing the total
to moro than 200.
The only initiative of the enemy was
counter attack early in the day at
St. Iilaire. The assault was repulsed
and number of prisoners were taken.
Enemy Raid Failure
The artillery on both sides has been
reaching over the lines to-day, but the
long range guns of the Americans and
French pounded the back areas of the
enemy the more steadily.
The one raid conducted by the Ger
mans last night was complete failure.
The patrol was driven off, leaving Sin
prisoners from whom it was learned
that. included in the artillery captured
by the Americans. was all of that of the
3lst German division.
The weather was almost ideal for
aerial operations, and full advantage
was taken of it by the Germans and the
Allies. The Germans showed much
more keenness to fight than they had
previously, but there were enough AL
tions to attend to the region far in the
rear. and last night bombing parties
dropped great quantities of explosives
on a few cities.
The Germans gave further evidence
to-day that they intended to resist on
that part of the IIindenburg line run
ming through this sector A detach-
ment was digging in to- day about Dom
martin four and one-half miles north
of Thiaucourt), while between Lachaus-
see (two and one half miles northwest
OF Dommartin) and Dommartin squad
trenches had been established. Ger
man detachments also were in the
woods above Woel (four miles north Of
The clearing up of the woods and
ravines was the most important part
of the work carried out by the Ameri-
can troops Saturday. Where the bar
rage had caught the enemy away from
the shelter of dugouts and trenches
piles of dead were encountered by the
scout patrols. and in many places addi-
tional supplies of ordnance and ammu-
milton We're discovered. In at least one
case a battery of German us was used
by the Americans against the enemy.
IN most cases the guns were
sufficiently damaged to make them un-
nj FOR use at the present time
Foes Guns Utilized
Great numbers of machine guns. with
plenty of ammunition near by, were