Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-16
TO SMASH
FORTRESS OF METZ
Military Experts Confident That
Great Moves Are Now
Under Way.
MAY USE THE GAS SHELLS
Claimed They Are Far More
Effective on Forts Than
in Trenches.
MAY USE THE GAS SHELLS

WASHISGTON September 15.-The
restrictions which it is reported by
cable General Pershing is throwing
around his Immediate movements arc
necessary, according TO stan ofncera
here. TO screen plans of even greater
military significance than the attack
the st. Mihiel salient.
These instructions OF General Fer
shing are compared with the order is
sued by General Haig at the time nc
was preparing his first drive against
Cambrai, which burst on the Germans
like meteor and surprised the Ger
man army with the forward movement.
OF the tanks without artillery prepara-
ton 1t is noted, however. that GEN
crsl Pershing puts no limitation on the
news Of the capture OF towns and the
position OF his army when given out
at his headquarters.
The particular action which stan Of
tive position of the advancing army
OF General Pcrshing and that of the
Germans falling back on Metz and in
EeIsrai ,hc .,d In the r vallsy ad, OF % me Mosele
has fortitications for six or seven
miles around it. 1t was thouShllm-
war. but it was invested by the Cor
mans with their superior siege guns,
and Marshal Bazaine wa. forced ito
surrender with about 100000 rhcn. il
There appears 10 be oniy oti. opin-
ION here to-day. in the ahsSnce OF
official announcement or Genethl Per-
1hsngs inientions of Wan ana ,nat 7sas
sary IL the general and coHtihii6hs
forward movement OF the American
army operating in that resioh Is, to
The whole spirit OF General AMaFch.s
statements to the press yesterday was
that there was TO be drive ar,er drive,
into Germany. The plan for the ad-
vance through the St. Mihiel salient
:sso,s; vas worked cd ou. by the stan, when
and that plan obviously included the
taking of Metz. That can only DC ac-
complished, il is stated, by a batter
siege guns. The staff says that stu
pendous movement like that of the
obiiteration ,i,,a nds Of the St Mihisl salient
out definite plan for the capture
Of Metz, which is a ,cheval on the
Moselle. But it can be taken IRON,
either side. it is stated. II is poinSeu
out that the resistance would be futile
against AZ The siege guns OF mighty ea;,
army has for this purpose.
GAS SHELLS WILL LIKELY
BE USED IN ATTACK
Great stress is laid mere on Inc
tack OF gas shells 1t is particularly
noted in this connection Inat gas shelis
have not always been effective against
trenches because the range is always
a matter of delicate calculation. That
difficulty does not beset the artilier-
lists, however. in delivering gas or
any other smells against fort or re-
doubt whose position and distance are
known to mathematical certainty.
The siege OF Metz by General Pershng
may. therefore, be totally dincren:
operation from that of Won Moltkcs
artillery against that citadel. 1t will
be quite evident. even from the batter
ing OF the defense OF Liege by the
German big guns at the opening OF
the war
The task ahead of General Pershing
now seems to be TO stabilize his army
with special reference the capture
of Metz. Opinion seems TO be gaming
ground that il would not be good mil
itary policy for him to advance ana
leave an army of, say, 100000 Germans
in the fortresses, who would be in a
position to make flank attack. There
is, however, also the opinion that as
soon as the bombardment Of Metz
begins with the gas shells, the for.
tress Will be untena BILE. and there viii
be a further German retreat. This Is
precisely what will happen TO the re-
naming masscd German Iorccs IN
another part of the thcater after the
reduction of St Quentin and Lille.