Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-17
100 VILLAGES, 100
SQUARE MILES AND
10000 HUNS TAKEN
BY FRED s. FERGUSON


WITH THE AMERICANS ON THE
METZ FRONT, Sept. 14.-American bar
rage fire smothered powerful German
counter attacks hurled against our new
front between Thiaucourt and the Mo
selle during the night.
These assaults were the first indica-
ton that the enemy is getting reorgan-
ized.
The number of prisoners taken and
guns captured is increasing.
cit is reported in Paris and London
that the prisoners taken by the Ameri-
cans total over 10000, while the French
captured 1000 in this same sector).
A new German division has been iden-
titled opposite our first army.
Patrols searching the conquered ter
ritory reported the enemy suffered
heavy losses in the battle. The German
dead in the fields are very numerous.
After defeat of the counter attacks,
our patrols pushed out and captuI ed
additional German prisoners, including
a dozen Austrians.
Forty Belgians who have been forced
to work for the Germans, and who were
rescued, said the Austrian troops ar
rived several days ago. They did not
appear in good condition.
Prisoners and refugees were most inn
pressed with the fact that the Ameri-
cans are eating white bread.
All our new positions are being con-
solidated and the rear areas improved.
Roads are being built across The for
mer No Mans Land.
American big guns are blasting at the
aAnn HNnn &c
Smelling from batteries of our cannon,
both heavy and light. Meanwhile the
work of hopping up the Germans caught
behind the American army in its swift
advance is practically completed.
Complete air supremacy is maintain
ed by the allies, all attempts of Ger
man airmen to attack the troops and
transports in the former salient are
speedily frustrated.
The st. Mihiel salient was obliterated
in 81 hours. In that time the Ameri-
cans, with the French in cooperation,
won more than 100 square miles of ter
ritory and captured upwards of 100
towns and villages. Before the American
attack the German defense caved in and
Pershings troops swept on hours ahead
of their schedule.
Many captured officers say the Hin
denburg line is untenable in its pres
ent condition. The American attack,
they said, was expected on September
Is and the Germans were engaged in
removing their artillery from the salient
when the blow fell.
The heaviest artillery fire from guns
of all calibers swept the shattered
German line all Friday night. During
all that night the American transport
kept moving forward to keep up with
the advancing infantry.
An unknown number of Germans
were trapped by the closing of the sa-
lient at it's top.
1t was learned from captured cor
poral that the Germans heard of the
coming attack as a result or raid
on the American lines Wednesday. The
fierce artillery preparation rendered
helpless whatever plans they made for
an orderly withdrawal, and the sySte-
matized retreat was broken up. Prison
ers taken from one unit said they were
ordered to resist to the last. The swift
ness of the American advance cut them
off and rendered them helpless.
Aside from the strategic value of the
reduction of the st. Mihiel salient, the
operation by the Americans has netteds
vast numbers of prisoners and huge
quantities of guns, munitions and gen.
eral stores.
The desperate efforts of the enemy
to escape through the forest near Wig
neulles partially succeeded, but not so
well as to detract from the brilliant
result Before the American line
stretched across the edge of the woods
frightened, it is estimated that thousands
escaped from the trap. Those who did
not escape were small units, rarely
greater than companies, and never Of
fered to fight unless encountered by
some patrol, and even then their re-
sistance 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, professed satisfaction
at their capture.
Among the war materials captured
was a long train of box cars contain
ing a complete equipment of gas pro-
iectors, and this may have had bear
ing on the failure of the Germans to
carry out a gas attack shortly before
the Americans began their operations.
It is known that the Germans planned
such an attack at one point, but pris-
oner said that the equipment was de-
layed and it was decided to postpone
the attack.