The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-15
PRISONERS MOSTLY
GLAD OF CAPTURE
Many Others Escaped Before
Patrols Arriued.

BY the associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE
LORRAINE FRONT, Sept. 14.-Aside from
the strategic value OF tho reduction of
the st. Mihlsl salient. the operation by
tho Americans has Melted vast numbers
OF prisoners and huge quantities of
guns, ammunition and general stores.
Tho desperate efforts of the enemy
to escape through the forest near Wig
neulles partly succeeded, but not so
well as to detract from the brilliant re-
suit. Before the American line stretched
across the edge of the woods frightened
1t is estimated that thousands escaped
from the trap. Those who did escape
were small units, rarely greater than
companies. and never offered to fight
unless encountered by some patrol, and
even then their resistance was slight.
The spirit of retreat had entered that
part of the German army, and there
were scores of instances where the men.
and even officers protested satisfaction
at their capture.
Gas Projectors Captured.
Among the war materials captured
was a long train of freight cars con-
tanning complete equipment Of gas pro-
5ectors, and this may have had bear
carry out a gas attack shorty before
the Americans began their operation. 1t
Is known that the Germans planned such
an attack at one point, but a prisoner
said that the equipment was delayed and
1t was decided to postpone the attack.
When the st. Nthiel operation began
there were from 10000 to 100000 Ger
mans inside the salient. They escaped
at the rate of 1000 hourly. but the
pincers closed and trapped hitherto
unknown number. The 1890 already
counted prisoners does not include the
bulk Of those believed to be trapped in
che salient.
The enemy counter attacked against
part of the American lines Friday eve
ming and again during the night, but
met with an intense and accurate artil-
1ery fire and recoiled. The Americans
took few prisoners in these attacks.
Some Hard Fighting Occurred.
Hari' fighting has taken place in the
quarries northeast OF Tey-en-H aye
where the Germans had placed one big
gun and many machine guns in IA well
defended position. Additional Austrian
prisoners have been taken. Naive
civilians said they came in only few
days ago.
ARTILLERY fire and gas shells were
sent against certain American positions
during the night, but they did little
damage.
The Americans are organizing their
newly taken positions rapidly and are
pushing forward exploitation parties.
Prisoners lid supplies are being COL
aected. and roads are being instructed
in No Mans Land. Much booty and
ammunition have fallen to the Franco
American allies.
Prisoners and refugees alike are
great y impressed by the fact that the
Americans are eating white bread. re-
garding it as a particularly ominous
sign for Germany.
Throughout the night and early<to day
Pershing's men continued to advance
and finished clean'ng-up the st. Mihel
salient. They c,edied the forests of Turk
ing Germans.
Artillery Was in Retreat.
PRISONERS make conflicting statements
respecting German preparedness for an
attack In this sector. Some say it was
unexpected. others declare they had nd
vance information of the hour and place
of the attack. Still others expected it
would take place on the 18th and say
that the artillery had been ordered to
withdraw OIL the night of the attack.
The posts command was being moved
when the attack began and therefore
was caught unawares in the barrage.
This apparently explains the light coun-
ter artillery fire Thursday morning.
A German prisoner officer is quoted
ms saying: 1.-The Hindenburg line in
Its present state is untenable."
Thirty-six hours OF fighting netted
Gen. Pershing's forces approximately
1855 square miles of territory in the
st. Mihiel salient which had been in
German hands since the autumn of
1914
Following the American troops
through the captured villages the As
ISOLATED Press found on every hand evil
dences of long control by the Germans.
Bills for electric lighting and supplies
had been paid with curious currency. on
which the Germans had printed French
monetary terms.
Inhabitants Were Isolated.
The inha bitants of the salient were abb
soluteiy ignorant of the events OF his
tory in the past four years. knowing
only what their captors had told them.
Here the sad stories heard In the whole
of the reclaimed districts of France
were accentuated by the long years OF
German control which had isolated the
people from news of relatives and of
world happenings.
Every American entering the villages
experienced the same reception as that
accorded to Secretary of War Baker and
Gen. Pershing and their party. Aged
men and women seized and kissed the
hands Of the officers and correspondents,
crying and laughing. the curiously aged
children initiating their elders unknow-
tngly.
For their own compatriots, however,
the greeting was deeper, and the French
patrols and troops following were even
more affected than those who had been
delivered.
Later in the evening Gen. Pershng
and Secretary Baker resumed their
tourney in other sections of the regained
region.
RAKEP AT ct. MJ1JEI.