The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-09-14
TO ISOLATE CENTER
OF GERMAN FRONT
Will Be Sequel Of the Quick
Reduction of the St.
Mihiel Salient
OPINION OF GEN. MARCH

Washington, Sept 14.-Complete
elimination OF the st. Mihiel salient
| by the American army and cooper
! ating French forces, many army Oh
ficials here believe is only the enter
ing wedge OF operations Of far larg-
er scope.
Official dispatches still were de-
layed and the full scope of the vic
| tory won by the Americans in their
first independent action could not
be gauged. 1t was regarded as prob
able, however, that Gen. Pershings s
men still were pressing forward to
get in touch with the new line the
enemy hopes to hold.
Until definite word comes as to
the line across the mouth of the de-
stroyed salient which the Americans
now hold officers here will be una
BILE to form opinions as to the most
probable course of future operations
in this theatre. There is a strong
belief, however, that the quick re-
duction of the st. Mihiel salient will
be made the cornerstone of great
encircling movement aimed at iso-
lating the German fortress Of Metz,
the center buttress of the whole
German front from the North Sea
to the Swiss border.
The strategic Importance of Gen.
Pershing's smashing victory can
hardly be overestimated in the opin-
ion of army observers. 1t is out OF
all proportion to the extent of the
territory regained or the forces en-
ployed, it is said, for the removal OF
| this menace in the rear of the
French citadel of Verdun has re-
leased the French armies from that
point to Rheims for active offensive
operations. 1t also has liberated the
railway line from Verdun to Com
mercy Toul and Nancy which will
be of the utmost value to Gen. Per-
shing and to the French armies on
his left in supporting future opera
tions along this front.
1t was the loss of this railroad
severed by the Germans in 1914
with the capture of St. Mihiel, which
placed the Verdun fortress in grav-
| est jeopardy and brought on the bat
tie of Verdun, where the Germans
met a bitter defeat at the hands o;
the French. Ever since then the
German grip on the heights around
Verdun has held the French in this
region and to the east and west of
the salient chained to defensive op-
erations. The numerical strength
of the French army was not suffi-
cient to permit an effort to drive the
enemy off without weakening the
lines elsewhere.
| Gen. Pershing now has signaled
the entry of the American army into
the war by smashing it in less than
two days Of fighting. Early reports
| fixed the number of prisoners taken
| by the Americans at $4,000 and
probably represent the wreckage OF
at least three enemy divisions. Nc
estimate has been received of the
war booty captured. Since the new
! line across the mouth of the old
pocket is far shorLer than the old
front, French and American troops
heretofore held fast to the defense
of the salient are now available fol
other duty.
! AS the lines were reported last
night there was nothing to indicate
that the American advance had stop.
ped. The German official statement
was that new line had been pre-
pared but the nature of the country
where the American troops stood late
yesterday indicated that the German
defense position must be farther
back toward Metz where better nat
ural obstacles are available. It was
expected here that American patrols
would push forward to feel out thi
| line before a new advance is under
taken.
The German statement that tn,
salient had been evacuated withou
serious interference caused mucl
amusement among officers in view
OF the number of prisoners captur
ed. 1t has been estimated that sever
divisions of the enemy were in th
salient, including those standing
guard at its fianks. Probably no
: more than four divisions, have a
any time been in the depth Of ;th