The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-14
FIRST GREAT
i. s. ATTACK
Will PRODUCE
BIG RESULTS
Gives Allies Base for Future
Opera tions Americans
Praised for Duck Action in
Eliminating Sector.
HOT STUFF SAYS MARCH

WASHINGTON, Sept 14-Eiimina-
tion Of the st. Mihiel salient by the
first big American offensive and the
consequent reduction of that sector by
% miles, General March said today is
OF extreme importance in that it gives
the allies much better base "for
future offensive operations.
General March paid high tribute to
the American forces which in less
than two days wiped out this salient
the narrowest and most angular on
the entire western front. The opera
tfons there he said, not only were a
tribute to the work of the staff but to
the individual soldier
Its hot stuff,' he added warmly.
Accomplished by Sharp Blows.
General March pointed out in con-
nection with the German claim that
the st. Mihiel had been abandoned
voluntarily that no mention was made
by the Germans of the big loss of
prisoners.
Capture Of the salient was accom-
plished by quick sharp blows on both
f1anks, General March explained The
American troops advanced across a
difficult terrain consisting of densely
wooded hills intersected by numerous
ravines.
No report has yet come from Cen
eral Pershing identifying any individ-
ual unit which participated in the adj
vance. General March, however, an
nounced the composition of the staff
which. under General Pershing, had
planned and executed the movement.
Determines to Fight On.
This staff is entirely different from
the general staff of the American
Expeditionary forces which remained
In its entirety at the expeditIonary
headquarters
General March laid particular en-
phasis on the determination of the
United States to continue to exert it's
whole strength against the Germans
He referred to recent publications,
which, he said, intimated that Amer
lea was not going through with the
war despote enlarged military pro-
gram. This suggestion he declared,
was "preposterous in it's faisity'
1t seems incredible the chief of
staff said, that such propag aganda could
gain attention at time when the war
department had just secured increased
age limits for the draft and was about
to ask an additional seven billion dol
lars for the use Of the military estab-
lishment during the present year.
All reports from American forces at
the front indicated high spirits and
enthusiasm throughout the whole
army. General March said the Amer
lean soldier quickly became imbued
with this spirit as soon as he landed
If he did not possess it before
OPPOSED BY SEVEN DIVISIONS.
WASHINGTON, Sept 14.-With the
St Mihiel salient wiped out by Gen.
Pershing's army, interest of officials
here was divided today between the
next probable move by the American
forces and the amount of booty that
had fallen to them in the short time
required for the accomplishment Of
the first task assigned them as an
independent operating army.
Latest reports from the front did
not make it clear whether the Ameri-
cans and the supporting French forces
had halted on a new line running In
the shape of bow from Fresnes to
the Moselle river at Pagny where the
German border was in sight, or still
were pursuing the enemy. From tho
knowledge of the nature OF the ter
rain, most observers were inclined -
the belief that any German defense
position must have been closer to the
border as it was there only that nat
ural defense ground was located.
The Importance attached to this op-
Grafton was emphasized not alone by
the fact that General Pershing him.
self commanded the Americans. but
that General Petain, the French COM
mander in chief, also was on the
ground.
The speed with which the Ameri-
cans from the south and those ad-
vancing from the west made juno
ture some twelve miles northeast of
ST. Mihiel was surprising in view OF
the fact that no less than seven Ger
man divisions opposed them.