Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-14
FIRST ARMY = :. -
COMPLETES BIG OPERATION

GBy Associated Press.l
The American first army has carried
tho levelnE OF the famous St. Mihtel
sa alicnt, in Lorraine. y-As{
In little more than twenty-four
hours not only had the work been sc5
complished, but General Pcrshing's men
had all the important towns. villages
and strategic. positions in the sessor
on tho banks of the MoSclle Rlver at
paEny. looking across the stream Into
German territory. and the southern
outer fortihcations of Metz. the efest
German stronghold In Lorraine, were
only four miles distant yr
Large numbers OF Germans had been
taken Drisoner--more than 10000 bad
hcen counted and others were still on
their way back to the prison cases-
and many guns and machine guns AND
great quantities of ammunition and
hands. 7%''
From Nationwide. on the north
the Americans have closed the mouth
of the big sack which extended .south-
ward to s.. Mihiel trapping within@it
forces who failed to take refuge in
flight when tho great bombardment Of
ThurSday n.sS y morniRs nor dS heralded the ap.
In addition along the eastern slide or
the heights, north OF Hattonville athe
Americans have debouched from The
hill region and arc astride the railroad
likewise, the Thiacourt-Met and
Nancy-Metz railroads are in America
hands.
Beginning In the northwest and
crossing the salient eastward. Frcsnes.
Les f;parges. Hattonville. Frenzy and
tween them arc in American hands.
Tho towns of NiGneulles. Thiaucourt,
Pont-a -Meusson and st. Mihiel are fay,.
sec, the dominating height in the cen
ter OF the salient, and from which
MUCH trouble had been eSpected. fell
without lighting. Among the nuins-
HunEarians. 'rst,
Although the operation of the Amer
Limited objectivcs." it nevertheless
cannot but have most important
bearing on the future of the war. From
the the obleeEation Of the the ST. %ihIe salient I
the Americans are in snlendid posi-
tion to act with their brothers in arms
ripc for strike into Germany direct.
Also. they arc aligned on territory from
which II is possible to get behind heth
make null the reported plans Of the
Germans to stabilize their front along
the Mcuse. should they he unable rs
hold the allies in the west in check:
ALLIED AIRMEN ROMR --~"-~>S
FORTIFIC.A .ATt0Ns OF ME@%'.
Already allied .atfmen are heavily
bombing the y-Moselle region around
Metz and its outlying fortificstiops.
having dropped many tons OF bombs
on the strategic railways leading from
the great fortress, and 1t seeminglyis
not without reason to expect that, with
apparent supremacy In the air. Metz
and the surrounding country hence.
forth is to be sadly harassed by the
allied flying squadrous. %
Meanwhile the maneuvcrinSs on ttte
west front around Cambrat and st
Quentin should not he lost sight Of BY
reason Of the present American ofyen-
sive Here the British and French
daily arc enlarEinC their gains In th~
process OF outnankirE and canturing
these two important towns. which ara
all but within their grasp. Parthertto
the north. In F1apders. the British also
aro Keeping up their encroachments;
tho region Of La Eassee and ..Arnen.
there's. both OF which places are inn
periled. ,S