The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-27
100000 OF U. $.
TROOPSIN ATTACK


Continued from First Page.
further the morale of the German forces
and the German nation by such an en-
forced retreat.
Gen. Pershing's report OF the American
advance came as a welcome surprise to
the military experts. The capture of
Montfaucon. Chappy and Varennes indi-
Gates a speed hardly believed possible in
view of the difficulties of the terrain.
The French operating in Champagne
and the Americans in the Argonne are
expected to encounter great difficulties
because OF the well established defensive
positions OF the Germans. As one gem
eral officer put 1t tonight. at Is a hard
country to force the fighting in" Thus
Marshal Foch's latest blow Is regarded
here as virtually challenge to the Ger
mans to fight under conditions favoring
the defenders.
No Metz Operation.
All ideas that the present onslaught
Is aimed at the German positions near
Metz or southwark may be discarded
at once &c according to military experts
here IL Gen. Foch wins his way to
positions where he virtually Is in the
rear OF the Hindenburg defences. they
point out, the necessary sequence will
be a complete withdrawal by the Ger
mans from their present so-called Hin
denburg line: this is SO obvious. 1t Is
explained, that the German high COM
mand doubtless has realized 1t for some
time.
Reports from the press correspondents
have been restricted to meet the new
censorship rules imposed by Gen. Per-
shing Names of villages captured or
entered by patrols may not be cabled
until officially announced in the reports.
From information reaching here it
appears that there was no chance for
the element of surprise in this latest
attack. The Germans were .concen-
trated in strength to meet it Prolonged
artillery preparation was the announce
ment of the impending assault
Great significance Is seen here in the
progress reported by Gen. Pershlng to-
night. in that It indicates that the first
defensive positions were carried, bring
ing the French and American forces
out into the open, where general ad-
vance could be made.
Railway Centre Falls.
Mention is made of the capture OF
Servon. which the enemy has held since
the early days OF the war in 1914. This
village is not more than dozen miles
south OF Vouzieres, q vitality important
railway centre to the enemy. The whole
lateral system of railways feeding into
the Hlndenburg defences would be at
once affected by the capture OF Nou-
zieres.
1t Is noted here by General stan Of
ficers that the German official report
confines Itself to stating that a break
through by the Franco-American forces
was frustrated and that the fighting is
stu in progress. This in one sense is
the most encouraging bit of official news
received. for the tone OF the German
statement implies that their line has
been bent back in this vitality important
area.
There has been no real break through
on the western front since the first Ger
man onslaught, and even in that case
II was not possible for the Germans to
really break through the Franco British
line. When the Franco-American forces
begin to break through the German lines
the war will be as good as over. This
is what Gen. March says is goin.y to
happen next summer. 'when eighty
American divisions are in France. For
the present. however. no legitimate eX-
pectation OF any such decisive victory
Is entertained. The German statement
is therefore tantamount to saying I'VE
were not annihilated by the attack"
The advance OF the Americans west
Of Verdun clearly indicates bending
back of the German line under forced
pressure. 1t Is regarded as certain that
the enemy has sought by the most des-
perate means to prevent this advance.
Makeup of Attacking Force.
Gen. Hunter Liggett's First Army
Corps is made up OF the First and Sec
ond Division OF Regulars, the Twenty
sixth Division of New Englanders, the
Thirty-second Division OF Michigan and
Wisconsin troops. the Forty-first Divl-
sion of troops from Washington, Ore
gon, North and South Dakota, Colorado
New Mexico, Montana. Nevada. Wyo-
ming and Minnesota and tho Rainbow
Division (the Forty-second), composed
OF troops from twenty-six States
From the fact that there are no Penn
sylvania. Missouri and Kansas troops in
the First Army Corps save small units
in the Forty-second Division it is as
sumed here that the Second Corps was
also heavily engaged. for in it are the
Twenty-eighth Division, composed en-
tirely. of Pennsylvanians. and the Thirty
fifth. composed of the National Guard
OF Missouri and Kansas. At last ac-
counts the Second Army Corps was
commanded by Major-Gen. Robert E. L..
Bullard.
An army corps consists OF $4,000
fighting troops, together with non com
batants. bringing the total up to nearly
10000. 1t is possible that half a mil
lion Americans have participated in the
new offensive.
Gen. Pershings battle report tonight
Is the first in which he has ever men
toned the units engaged In battle
| and in this has followed the example
now OF the foreign commanders, with
the exception of the French.