The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-19
keep NIBBLINC ON
The American Forces Push
Slowly Toward Metz.
Germans Show Signs of Still
Further Retirement.
YANK PATROLS BEYOND ,PAGNY
Germans Drop Propaganda In
side the American Lines.
Seek To Win Over German
Born American Soldiers.
YANK PATROLS BEYOND PAGaY
BY FRED S. FERGUSON.

d RED >. FERiOSON.
With the Americans on the Metz
Front, Sept. 19.-The Americans are
steadily pushing their line forward
following up the patrols and their ad-
vanced positions are now directly in
front of the new line which the Ger
mans established in this region last
February.
Our patrols have reconnoitered this
section of the main Germany line
several times and returned with re-
ports concerning conditions. The
American main line now runs thru
RonvauX. Manheulles, Pintheville, st.
Hilaire, Doncourt. Wool. Haumont, be-
tween Jaulny and Rembercourt, north
of Wanderers and south of Champey to
the old line.
Germans Prepare to Fall Back.
Patrol encounters are frequent, and
bombardment of the front lines and
rear areas is heavy. The enemy is re-
ported to be mining Hauemount ap-
parently preparing to evacuate the ter
rain in that vicinity in great retro
grade movement to Mars-La-Tour and
Chambley.
(Chambley is three and half miles
north of Rembercourt. Mars-La-Tour
is the same distance north of Cham
bley. on the railway running south
ward from Contains, and is one OF the
chief pillars of the German defense
line).
American artillery blew up a great
ammunition dump behind the German
lines made a direct hit on a big gun
at La Chaussee (two miles north of
Hauemount) and inflicted other dam
age,
The advance of the American line
is resulting in Strengthening out sew
eral CROOKS which were formed in the
past three days. Villages. wood,
r.t1a dp0nntS which were
passed over by the patrols. are being
mopped up by the slower moving
main body.
Patrols Beyond Pagny.
Constant contact is maintained with
the boche rear guards. which have
now been cleared from the territory
below the main German defense line.
The enemy has now taken up his main
positions along the line on the whole
front between the Meuse and the Mo
selle. One American patrol was re-
ported today to have penetrated 400
yards beyond Pagny- Sur-M oselle (two
miles north OF Wanderers and just
across the river from the German
frontier).
A certain American division has now
established a record of capturing 80
guns. Additional prisoners are con-
stantly being brought in.
The Germans in this region appar-
emily were well fed. Quantities of
candy. cheese and other delicacies
have been found in enemy dugouts.
Appeal to Germans in U. S. Army.
The Germans are now dropping
propaganda over the American lines
from toy balloons, appealing to the
soldiers of German ancestry to join
them and asserting they will find
greater liberty and opportunities in
the Fatherland. One propaganda
sheet asserts that President Wilson is
more English than American and pic
lures Germany as defending herself
against the world. The effect is
laughable, as the German-Americans
are the most bitter toward the enemy
of any men in our army.
A captured German wrote a note
which he asked to be sent to the Ger
man lines. declaring the stories told
them regarding Americans slaughter
ing prisoners are untrue. He said
many of his comrades are tired of
fighting and would surrender but for
fear of being killed. 1t is evident from
this that the German command is con-
Quoting propaganda among it's own
troops in an effort to instill the fear
OF capture, thus hoping to bolster up
their weakening morale.
Artillery duels and counter raiding
continues in the Vosges sectors. One
American patrol penetrated the Ger
man lines there to a great distance
and brought back a number of pris-
nnora