Arizona republican., 1918-09-14
Smashing Victory Important.

Smashing Victory Important.
 The strategic importance of General Pershing's smashing victory hardly can be overestimated in the opinion of many observers. It is out of all pro- portion to the extent of the territory regained or the forces employed, it is said, for the removal of this menace in the rear of the French citadel of Yer dun has released the French armies from that point to Reims for active operations. It has also liberated the railway line from the Verdun to Com mercy, Toul and Nancy, which will be of the utmost value to General Per- shing and to the French armies on his along this front.
 Brought On verdun Battle. It was the loss of this railroad severed by the Germans in August 1914. with the capture of St. Mihiel which placed the Verdun fortress in gravest jeopardy and brought on the battle of Verdun. where the Germans met bitter and costly defeat at the hands of the French. Ever since then the German grip on the heights around Verdun has held the French in this region and to the east and west of the
 
 The numerical strength of the French army was not sufficient to permit ar effort to drive the enemy off without l weakening the lines elsewhere.
 Twelve Thousand Prisoners.
 General Pershing now has signalizet the entry of the American army int the war by smashing the enemy's onl, remaining salient on the whole battl | front nd ocht J,,, two days of fighting. Early report fixed the number of prisoners takel by. the Americans at 12,000 and thes probably represent the wreckage of a least three enemy divisions. No esti mate of the war booty captured ha been received.
 Since the new line across the mout of the old pocket is; far shorter thaI the old front French and America troops heretofore held fast to the de fense of the salient now are availabl for other duty
 Nothing to Indicate Pause.
 As the lines were reported tonight there was nothing to indicate that tn American advance had stopped. Tn German official statement said neN line had been prepared, but the natur of the country where the America troops stood late today indicated tha the German defense position must b farther back toward Metz, where bet ter natural obstacles are available. was expected here that America patrols would push forward to feel ou this line before a new advance is un dertaken.
 Germans Create Amusement.
 The German statement that tl salient had been evacuated wihot serious interference caused muo amusement among officers in view { the number of prisoners captured. has been estimated that seven d visions of the enemy were in il salient, including those standing guar at it's flank. Probably not more tha four divisions have at any time bee in the depth of the pocket, and ( these more than one-fourth have bee captured. Officers say that a retres effected at such a cost hardly can considered as a successful evacuatio and they are inclined to accept tf German statement as promulgated ft home consumption.
 May Agitate German People.
 It was said that for the high con mand to acknowledge that the fir blow had plotted out in less than tv days a salient that had been held f, four years and also cost the German more than 12,000 prisoners in additic to their dead might further agitate u German civil population.
 At the same time, it is not doubtt that the German leaders expected u stroke and made such preparation they could toward getting their ma forces out of the salient. The swif ness of the American advance on u Hanks, however, seems to have ups their plans. And if is believed he that the figures on war material cal tured will bear out this view.