davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Foes Experts Offer
Alibis TO Explain
American Victory
AMSTERDAM

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 15.-Berlin
morning papers contain little comment
of their own on the American drive
against the St Mihiel salient, except
the Socialist "Vorwaerts." Herr
koester, its military expert. tele-
graphing Friday declares the Franco
American attack did not come as a
surprise. He believes it may be part
of another big offensive, which viii
break at some other points on the
front and asserts the German command
is fully prepared for such an event
uality.
Koester explains the ready abandon
ment of the salient by the statement
that possession Of st. Mihiel was
valuable only as long as we could hope
1T would support a German thrust past
Nerdun.' which idea now seems to have
gone INTO the discard He dwells also
on the Franco American "failure" to
bottle up the Germans n d sack, but
he secs clearly menace to the Lor-
raine frontier, which is only eight
miles beyond Thianoourt, while The
3rjey nine basin also is within easy
reach. But with the fortress Of Metz
IL the background, he think, any de
signs uron German soil or Brey are
doomed TO failure.
The "Nossische Zeitune" prints a
caption across It's front page in which
It says: est. Mihiel bend ou.etiy
evacuated" The "Lokal Anzeigcr"
makes II "feh: for St. Mihis' beni."
Captain Won Salzmanr, military cx-
port oi tho "Nossischo Zeitung." saws
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16


ing out the st. Mihiel salient
would have passed for a mill
tary marvel had it occurred two
years ago--or even year ago. Now
it is only an incident in the furious
offensive which the Allied armies
have been waging since July'18 last.
Clean cut and spectacular in re-
suits as it was, it merely parallels
achievements like the Franco-Amer-
lean drive against Ludendorff' s
right wing in the Marne salient, the
Franco-British break through west
of Montdidier, the storming by the
British and Canadians Of the famous
Queant- Drocourt line, Humbert's re-
markable advance to Lassigny and
Noyon and Mangin's succession of
deadly thrusts against the German
positions in the Disc and Ailette val
leys.
Conditions Of warfare have
changed radically in the last eight
months. Intrenched lines have lost
their virtue. a fortified zone is now
no stronger than the infantry which
holds it. And colossal defensive
systems like the old Hindenburg line
have suddenly become as vulnerable
as their weakest points.
AS a test Of the striking power of
the American army, fighting under
its own leadership, the st. Mihiel
operation left nothing to be desired.
1t was notable, too, as exposing
again the growing confusion and in
decision of German strategy. The
German General Staff still insists
that it conducted a retirement "ac-
cording to plan" out Of the st. Mi
hiel pocket. But plan which leaves
10000 prisoners behind out of pos
sibly 10000 or $4,000 troops con-
cerned in the retirement - is one to
which no general staff except a
much flustered one would think of
acknowledging a parental relation
Many of the prisoners taken have
offered another alibi-to the effect
that the German High Command ex-
pected an American attack on Sep
tember 10 and had ordered retreat
on that date. But to foresee a
calamity and then to be overtaken
by it couple of days ahead of
schedule time argues very damag-
ing dislocation between provision
and action. In war such sluggish
ness quickly brings its own punish
ment
Another important fact was dis
closed last Thursday in the fighting
between the Meuse and the MoseIle.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Military Comment
By William l.. Mcpherson
(Copyrlgl1, 1913, Nct0 Yorh Tribune hc.)

1t is plain that Ludendorf has not
yet been able to repair the present
faulty concentration of his armies
for purposes of defence His line be-
low the Argonac is highly diluted.
Several Austro- Hungarian regi-
ments were encountered in the St.
Mihiel salient. They had been
rushed in to reinforce the second
class German troops on that sector.
The German positions in Lorraine
and Alsace are evidently seriously
undermanned. And LudendorF can
not well spare divisions from the
present Hindenburg line in the
north to help stand off the sort of an
attack which the American armies
in the Toul-Nancy region have
shown themselves capable of deliv-
ering.
Yesterday, according to reports
from London, the American forces
between Nerdun and Pont-a- Nous
son made a new advance of three
miles on a thirty-nile front. At the
northwestern end of the line thew
reached Abaucourt, on the highroad
from Nerdun to Etain Abaucourt
is about five miles west of Etain.
which stands at the gateway to the
Brley iron district. The new Amer
lcan line runs southeast from Abau-
court we'll in front of Fresnes to
DoncOurt, five miles north of
Vlgneuilles, and thence east to the
Moselle River. The guns of the de-
fences Of Metz have now been
brought into use to check the Ameri-
can advance toward the Brley basin.
In the region northeast of Sois-
sons General. Mangin's army made
an advance of two miles on
Saturday, taking the village of AL
emant and capturing $500 prison
ers. Allemant lies only two miles
west Of the western end of the Che
min des Danes. In this sector the
French are now directly south of
Anizy-leC Chateau, and are working
their way toward Laon from the
southwest in such a manner as to
envelop the formidable st. Gobain
bastion, which defends Laon on the
west. General Mangin's progress
has been steady, in spite of desper-
ate German resistance. His press
ure and Allied pressure further
west on La Fere, St. Quentin, Cam
brai and Douai are potent reasons
which dissrade Ludendortf from di-
verting German reserves south to
protect the Alsace-Lorraine from
tier
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Yankees Charge Routs
Foe From Strongest
St. Mihie[ Posts
CEy The Associated Press }

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
LORRAINE, Sept. 15.-Thc perform.
ance of the Americans stationed on the
western side of the st. Mihiel salient.
with the assistance of the French. con-
stitutes one of the most brilliant pages
of American history thus far in the
great struggle.
1t was this unit which accomplished
two of the most notable strategic
moves of the offensive t. first was
the taking of Les Eparges dill. which
mad cost the French many Casualties IN
the last four years. The second was
the daring march of an American rcei-
ment at night through woods infested
with Germans to Vigneulles. there to
effect liason with troops working
from the eastward.
In carrying out these two moves the
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Many Germans CroW
Faint Hearted, Says
Rapuyior Minister

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 15.-En recent
address at a meeting OF the Bavarian
Christian Farmers Union, the Ba-
varian Minister OF the Interior. Won
Rrettreich, declared that it was not the
military situation which makes the
period through which Germany is row
paas-lg 'the very graves. and scvcrost
2erlod Of the war; II is due to ;he
tact. he said, that many have become
faint hearted ard have wag cred in
mora tirmness and th4 resolve to hold
out"
o. authority Of information supnlied
ny the military there We're no grounds
Tor anxiety; and until the enemy
wished to conclude just and honor
able peace, he said. all would have TO
do their utmost fer the defence of the
fatherland. He urged therefore united
support to the ninth war loan as proof
OF power and endurance, adding that
so long AS the enemy's desire to an
nlhllate us remains unbroken we must
perseVere or otherwise we are lost
against the superiority of our enc
mics
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16

Allies encountered the stiffest opposi-
ton of the offensive. The Germans
cherished Les Eparge5 because they
knew 1t was the key to the Woevre
Plain. They fought desperately to
hold it and counter attacked repeatedly
after they had been elected
Similarly the Germans knew the dire
results they would suffer if they per
mtted the Americans to meet at
Njgneullcs, and in some cases fought
lkc demons to prevent such calamity.
The Americans, nevertheless, marched
steadily onward through the night with
fixed baycnets, killing or making pris-
oner all the Teutons who opposed them.
They took the prisoners ahead with
them, for they were too busy to send
them back.
The difficulties confronting the
Americans may be appreciated when it
is realized that all along the Western
salient the Germans held d series Of
hills, almost the size Of mountains,
which dominate the Woevrc plain as
tar as the eye can see. 1t was to take
these natural fortitications, equipped
with every modern defensive device,
that the Americans were ordered to at
tack. All previous efforts to capture
Les Eparges, the highest and most
dominating height, had failed in the
past.
AT the conclusion of their artillery
preparation the Franco co-Americans
swept forward in an irresistible rush
which never stopped until they had
reached every height in the long series
which extend southwark nearly to St.
Mlhlel. uncounted thousands of
miles of barbed wire had been
stretched at intervals for miles back of
the German front lines. Every foot Of
the way was through underb rush thick
with machine guns, while "a compll-
Gated trench system further barred the
way.
Despite the bitterest opposition the
Franco Americans swept upward and
onward into Les Eparges Hill. From
mat point they stormed the villages
Of Herbeuville, Hannonville. Thillot.
st. Maurice, Billy and Hattonchatel and
then IN the dead Of night into Wig
neulles, at the southern end of the line
OF heights. To reach these points thev
had to advance through veritable
1hicKets OF machine guns. In many
cases tnese guns were abandoned in
tact when their crews fled
Great ammunition dumps in the
pans Just beyond the heights were
abandoned so hastily the Germans did
not even have time to exnloda t,sn' uro
ne helds under the hills were filled
to-day with boxes of cartridpes ana
shells of every calibre as well as aerial
torpedoes for the Gothas, which for
merly operated from the Woeyre
plalns. Articles of clothing of every
description Uttered the roads leadinc.
over the hills, while here and there
'he BODIES OF German soldiers Law still
unburicd ''S '''''
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16

found, and they were promptly turned
on the enemy, pouring Thousands Of
bullets on groups who still held ont
Among the captivcs today were sew
erai belglans. whom the Germans had
been working much the same as Slaves.
lhey had contrived to lose themselves
from their guards during the retreat
ana were waiting for the coming uD of
the Americans.
1t is now definitely established thai
the Germans did not expect the Ameri-
can attack before September 10. Even
then vt was not believed that there
would be an attack from the west flank,
except perhaps slight one in the way
or a diversion.
When Nigneullcs Wood was squeezed
many prisoners were added to the al
ready long list. Large numbers of
Germans had been concentrated there.
and when the pincers closed Friday the
line was thin for some hours. and
through the holes d large part Of the
enemy managed to escape. Those who
remained behind offered almost no re-
slstance when the French line moved
up from the south and on the hanks
Saturday. One or two bursts of ma
chlne gun fire. then the cry Of "Kame-
rad as they scrambled out of their
shelters with appraised hands.
Among the prisoners captured were
several huNored from two Austrian di
VISIONS, who were cut off when the
americans advanced to the attack from
nehlnd after the Germans had broken
ney were bitter against the Germans.
who they said had given way before
surrounded, and they had no chance to
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
American Victory
Groyus With Late
Battle Reports

PARIS, Sept. 15.-The magnitude Of
the American success continues to
grow as reports come from the front.
What most appeals to the French
imagination is the approach OF the
American line to within q few miles
of the great fortress of Metz, which
heretofore has been considered impree-
nable and such vast reservoir Of men
and material as to forbid anv an
proach.
The French look hopefully to the re-
lease from the hands of the enemy of
the great metallurgical basins on which
Germany relics for IRON and steel.
st. Mihiel Not Wrecked
The fact that St Mihiel was left by
the retreating Germans virtually in,
tact before the advancing Americans
mas led 70 the suggestion here that the
eaemy may have abandoned the prac-
nee OF wantc1 destruction in the sec
ons Jhe Americans are traversirc.
One theory is that the American. or
rush was so sudden that 1t cave ,he
"ermans 10 time 10 wreck tho hu.ld-
ings, eat Marcel Sembat points or.
that dynamite bombs couid o!ick],-
have wrought destruction, upiess thcv
had decided to rcnonnca Their .vstcn
o. method;cai devastation because Of
the recent outturs7s Of 'indiguat;on
against 1t and desire not to renew
such revo!ting sHectacles before the
Anericans
Referring "a The presence of Aus
TRANS before III &mericans in tbciy
advance, "f.a libcrSo' says the Aus
'rian troops feit inst the shock of an
American brigade The audacity Of
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
BRITISH

LONDON (NIGHN by sue
ccssful minor operation carried out
early this morning our troops capt
urcd Maissemy, northwest Of St
Quentin, together with the trench
system to the southeast and east of
the village. One hundred prisoners
and number Of machine guns were
taken by US.
On the remainder OF the front
few prisoners have been brought in
by our patrols in different sectors.
The hostile artillery has shown
considerable activity during the day
at number Of points along the bat
tlefront south of the Arras- Cambria
road.
LONDON (DAY) .-Northwes of
st. Quentin our troops made prog
ress yesterday and last night south
and north of Holnon Wood.
Local hostile attacks were repulsed
in the Trescault and La Bassee sec
tors.
The hostile artillery has been ac-
tive during the night in the Roisel,
Moeuvres, Marquion and Givenchy
sectors, and with gas shells north
west of Armentieres
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
(By The Associated Pressl

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE LORRAINE FRONT. Sept. Il
delayed .-Thursday was the day of
attack and advance. Yesterday was
the day of consolidation. To-day was
one of patrol operations. This sum-
marizes roughly the history of the
three days Of the brilliant operation
carried out by the Americans in Co
operation with the French which has
brought the Allies to within from two
to three miles of that part of the Hin
denburg line in front of this sector.
The offensive thus carried out so
speedily has resulted in the liberation
of some seventy-tivc villages and the
capture of several thousand prisoners,
many cannon and machine guns and
much material. The Germans, wheth-
cr caught unawares, as some of the
prisoners assert, on prepared for the
assault, have retreated in confusion
before the Franco american st0rmlng
waves
The Americans from the outset have
been ahead of their schedule, pressing
on after especially petitloning the
General Staff to allow them to do more
than had been allotted them to per
form They have been irresistible IN
their dash and vigor.
Days Work in Hour
The record of the offensive shows
that, after a four-hour artillery prepa-
ration, the men along about two thirds
of the forty-mIe salient went into ac-
ton on the morning of September -.
The French and the Americans TO the
north began their infantry attack at
about o'clock The French at first
attacked lightly, merely to hold the at
tention of the Germans in the tip of
the st. Mihicl salient, from Xivray to
Chevaliers Wood
BY 8 o'clock most of the objectives
Of the first days battle had been at
tanned and more than 500 prisoners
had been taken. The enemy was in re-
treat all along the line, in some places
at the double-duck.
AL of the first days objectives were
reached early in the afternoon. but
the units were so eager to push ahead
that they petitioned the General Staff
TO allow them to 20 on, and d general
order permitting this was issued.
Two Days Goals in Day
BY evening the objectives of the first
phase OF the second day had been
reached. By midnight of the first dav
the line had been extended SO that it
ran from Fey-en-Hayc to Vieville-en-
Haye, north of Thiaucourt and south
of Beney, Nonsard, Montsec, Loupmont.
Apremont and Ally Wood to the old
line at Hans surMeusc. Then it curved
around St. Mihiel
The French and Americans to the
north had pushed the line there in so
lar that 1t ran from St MihieI to
Chauvoncourt, Cote St. Marie, west of
Spada, west of Dompierre aux Bois.
along the Grande Tranchec de Calonnc.
thence by the bend southwest of Han
nonvIlle, Berbeuvile and Combres to
the old line west OF Treseauyaux.
The nature of the advance showed =
tactical advantage and the possibility
OF closing IN at the top OF the .
Mihlel salient, and American corps on
either side were ordered to work IN
ward and meet. The patrols had al
ready gone far ahead.
he lines reached were established
and consolidated by midnight, and at
midnight yesterday morning connec-
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16

, now occupied by the Franco o-Americans
as most dangerous and vulnerable,
since it is a direct threat to Metz
The "Mulhausen Tagcblatt" says the
American offensive III upper Alsace
with heavy artillery, which could
destroy towns in the Duchy of Baden.
IS causing terror among the population.
The evacuation of MUlhausen and even
all OF Alsace is being talked about, the
paper Declares
Swiss military critics assert that
the American offensive was not a sur.
PRISE to the Germans and that they
therefore were beaten on their merits
by stronger force. These experts
praise General Pershing's advance
considering it not a local tactical at,
tack, but an important strategic move
ment which may result in bringing
closer the end of the war.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
The Official Statements

losses, leaving in our hands about
100 prisoners.
There was moderate artillery ac-
tivity and some enemy thrusts at the
Umignon Brook. They were re-
pulsed.
General Won Carlowtzs army again
engaged in heavy battle between the
Ailettc and Asne After artillery
preparation lasting for several hours
tho French from early morning at
tackled with strong forces. They were
repulsed on both sides of the Ailettc
by Hanovcrians and Brunswick
troops.
The Rrandenburger and Guards
regiments, after nine days Of heavy
hghting, during which the enemy
sought almost daily to gain the
heights east Of Vauxallon, again de
feated yesterday in hand-t hand
fighting and partly by counter at
tacks which had been prepared for
ny the strongest artillery and mine
hrc. In the region of Allement the
enemy pressed forward across the
height east Of Latfaux but was
brought to standstil by our counter
attack.
Between Sancy and Vailly the
enemy attacks were repeated many
times, partly supported by armored
cars. They collapsed before our line.
German reconnoitring troops swan
across the Aisne Canal east of Vaillv,
and brought back prisoners from the
southern bank
South of the Aisne, mainly with
Senegalese, the French attacked be-
tween Revlllon and Roman. In spite
Of heavy losses suffered in frutless
morning attacks, he again advanced
to the attack in the afternoon. After
strong artillery preparation we drove
him back and captured more than a
hundred prisoners. On both sides
Of the Ncrdun-Etain Road enemy
thrusts failed
There were forefeld engagements
before our new line, between the
Cotes of Lorraine and the Mosellc.
The enemy, who pushed forward at
places with armored cars, was re-
pulsed The artillery activity was
restricted in a disturbing fire, which
was revived at times in conjunction
with infantry engagements.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Metz Bombed bv
Allied Planes as
Yankees Press On
British Aviators Attack
Many Other Towns in
Night Raids

LONDON, Sept. 15.-Powerful ar
attacks are being continued around
Metz, according 20 the statement is.
sued by the Air Ministry tonight. The
stations and tracks at Metz Sablons
and Courcelles have been attacked as
we'll as various enemy concentration
points. The statement says:
''On the battlefront. in addition to
the bombing reported in yesterdays
communique, the following bombing
operations we're carried OUT
1.-TWO further attacks were made on
Metz -Sablons in the late afternoon.
and many direct hits were obtained on
the railway triangle, on the workshops.
the gas works and the barracks. The
Boulay airdrome also was attacked
with good results.
Heavy attacks were kept IN
throughout the night Of September Il
Is on Metz -Sabions. Courceiies. En-
range. Saarbrucken, Kalserslautern
and the airdromes at Fresoaty and
Boulay. Many direc- hits were oh.
tanned on the railway, especially a.
etz-Sablons and Courcelles, and sev-
eral fires were started a. Metz, Kai.
serslautern, the Saarbrucken station
and the Frescaty alrdyome Three Of
our machines did not return.
This morning the railway triangle
at Metz-Sablons was again attacked
and many direct hits We're obtained
Enemy scouts were active Bombs
also were dropped on the Bull air
drome. Three Of our machines are
missing.
To-day the Daimler works in Stutt
CART also were attacked. with good re-
suits. During this raid twenty enemy
aircraft we're encountered and two
were destroyed. Our machines all re
turned safely.
The total weight Of bombs dropped
during the twenty-four hours was
r,orc than twenty-seven tons
The official statement issued by the
Air Ministry last night said:
In conjunction with the attack BIZ
the American First Army the follow
ing operations We're carried out: On
September l3, in addition 10 the bomb
ing reported in yesterdays commune
que, nearly a ton of bombs was
dropped on the railways at ArnaYlle
ard Metz-Sablons. Two enemy aiy-
craft were shot down out of control
"On the night Of September 1914
attacks We're carried out on the rail-
way at Courcelles.
To-day the railway at Metz-Sablons
and Ehrang and the Buhl airdrome
were attacked With good results. Three
direct hits we're obtained on The rail
way 81 Ehrang and one on shed q,
the Bull airdrome. Nearly SIX and
one half tons OF bombs were dropped
during the day and night. One OF our
machines is missing
The air report from the War Office
III Paris last night said:
"On September l. and Is our air
planes participated actively IN the Of
fensive operations of the American
army. In spite of strong winds, low
clouds aad rain our bombing and pur.
suit sQuadrons attacked troons and
conveys IN the region Of ConAans
Chambley, Nineulles-les-H -Hattonchatel
and Mars-laTour. Seven enemy planes
We're brought down or put cut OF action
and one captive balloon was burned
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
GERMAN

BERLIN (DAY.-On both sides of
LA Bassee Canal partial enemy at
tachs were repulsed.
The English again attacked near
Havrincourt. Their first assault
pressed Us back from the eastern
edge Of Havrincourt. Throughout
The day the attacks were repeated
many times, but collapsed.
Our counter attack was preceded
oy i most intense concentrated artil-
lery fire. The enemy suffered heavy
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
ITALIAN

ROME.-Infantry and arditi parties,
after short but effective artillery
bombardment and assisted by low
fying airplancs, yesterday morning
attacked and captured tie whole of
an emery defensive system on .he
Grove'ia, southward of Corte., The
prisoners taken numbered 348 and
include Twelve officers. A number Of
machine guns, hundreds of rifles and
abundant way material were capt
urcG.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Fl German Towns
Bombed by British

LONDON, Sept. -. -Twcnty-one i'm
portant German towns have been
bombed by the British independent air
iorce during the month of August. ac-
''rdlng to information from an au-
thoritative source.
Inc objectives were railway stations.
chemical and other factories and b,as+
furnaces. During the last three months
the md apendent air force has made
2d' aerial raids over German territory