El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-26
METZ TAKES ON A NEW MEANING;I
WHAT LIES BEFORE PERSF ILNG'S MEN.

THERE is luu in the fighting before Metz where Gen
Pershings driving machine estimated to number ESQ.,
900 men, has made stand after clearing the St Mhiel
salient PershHg attained his objective when the enemy
driven back the MoseIle river the German Dor
der and his troops busy consolidating their posi-
tons and presumably preparing for the next move
The big guns Of the American forces already indicate
what that be. They busly shelng the
forts Of Metz The Germans know what expect and
doubtedy they viii hold Metz the very limit Of their
power They VIII seek relieve the pressure upon the
great German fortress for such Metz IS Within the next
few days watch for strong German attack the Amer
can forces IN front Of Metz The attempt Of the enemy
should be to drive the Americans far enough backward to
put Metz cut Of the zone Of fire.
Assuming that the German effort, If it is made will
fail, there two events which may One is a
strong American thrust both sides Of the fortress, the
effort being to pinch out and force its surrender by iso
lating It. Tie other is long period Of artillery fire
cenated the forts day and night until they are reduced
and the way opened for assault.
II much TO expect that Gen Pershing viii order
frontal attack Metz any time in the future fol-
the city is so heavily fortified make such attempt
costly It VIII be OF great interest TO see what course
Gen. Pershing pursues.
Metz is very important It Of the great German
bases Of the west Some call It @the cornerstone Of Ger
many Aside from its tremendous physical importance to
Germany its capture by the Americans would have most
depressing moral effect the German people They would
be Convinced at last that their military strength break
ing down If the Germans cannot hold Metz It is plain to
the world that the nation is doomed
Metz offers great possibilities for defence It IS the
counterpart Of what VeTdun was and the princes
army sacrificed itself in unavaiing effort to take Yer
dun.
Metz the city and the % forts surrounding it. have
been regarded as Of the most formidable forresses N
the world It is the Mosee ver 1917 miles east Of the
German border Il is partly water city, something like
Veuice IN that respect and for that the more dlf
fIt of CAPTURE Il lies both sides of the Mosee uver
both sides Of the See river and part Of the city IS On NJ
tie Islands IN the Mosee To the east north and nortn-
the iron and coal fields OF French and GERMAN
Lorraine
Tbe presence Of these fields is Of the reasons
hv the capture Of that territory by the allies IS so
highly desirable Loss Of those sources Of maternal
would be disastrous to Germany. Some experts go so
far Is TO say that Germany could not carry on the
war another three months If deprived OF these neos
The chief iron field Of the Rhine district is that OF Lor
nine including the Basin de Bey, the greatest iron pro-
ducne region Of the world It extends along the franco
German border for IS miles, almost to Pont-A-Mousson II
Is located mainly IN AlsaceLoraine and overaps into BEL
GUM and Luxembourg
Possession Of the major portion Of this area was IN
5ubfedv what Germany was fighting for in the Franco
Of REIMBURSEMENT could be realized unless Germany
cane into possession Of the essential materials Tor making
Thus Germany came into ownership Of most OF TINS
productive territory through the signing OF the Treaty OF
Client II 1871
Previous to the present var Germany obtained from
the iron mines her side Of the border 100000 tons OF
her annual total production Of 2oOoooo while France got
100000 tons out Of total annual production Of p
100000.
since 1914 Germany been IN possession Of the mines
On the French side Of the border bringing her annual pro
duon up 100000 tons and forcing France to look to
the other allies for her supply.
Here then cones view another aspect Of the waT-a
new obecrive-wch is the Wrestling from Germany Of the
territory upon which Germany relies almost entirely for
iron and coal
Nov to reach these German fields it IS necessary fOI
the allies TO reduce Metz One might well say it is nee