The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-09-16
YAI.II.(S )ATINUE
DRIVE III METZ;
ADVANCE 3 MILES
Guns of German Fortress Are
Turned on Victorious
American Army.
j. S. GUNS SHELL RAILROADS
Pershing's Warriors Find Little Oppo-
sition Near MosseIIe River-Ma.
chine Gun Nests Wiped Out
Won 127 Square Miles Of
Land in 27 Hours.

Washington, Sept. 16.-The Amer
lean line on the left bank of the Mo-
selle river, in the ST Mihiel sector, has
been advanced from one to two miles
and now includes the towns Of Vilcey
and NOrroy, General Pershing report
ed An enemy counter attack, launched
near st. Hilaire at daybreak, was cas-
lily repulsed and number Of prisoners
taken.
Seventy-twO guns abandoned by the
enemy Sin his hasty retreat" were
brought in during the normal exten-
sion Of the American lines beyond
Jaulny, General Pershing said. This
brought the total number of guns cap
tured in the St. Mihfel drive to more
than 200. Thousands of machine guns
and $4,000 prisoners have been taken.
Consolidate Lines
Hindered only slightly by the Ger
man artillery and machine guns, PERISH
ing's army continued the consolidation
of their lines facing the recently
strengthened Hindenburg defenses.
Additional territory was brought In
as the long line was Strengthened, the
American troops on the extreme right
swinging along the Moselle river for
the greatest gains. It was not q day
OF battle for more ground, however, SO
much as for the establishment Of
more definite front.
Fires Back of Lines.
Fires were observed in Dommartin-
la-Chaussee. In almost every case
where evacuation has been planned,
the Germans have carried out sys-
tematic destruction of certain parts of
their stores and with them wooden
buildings and barracks
The offensive thus carried out so
speedily has resulted in the liberation
Of some rs villages and the capture
of thousands of prisoners, many cam
non and machine guns, and much ma
terial. The Germans, whether caught
unawares, as some of the prisoners as
sert, or prepared for the assault, have
retreated in confusion before the
FrancO-American stOrming waves,
The Americans from the outset have
been ahead of their schedule, pressing
on after especially petitiOning the gen.
eral staff to allow them to do more
than had been allotted them to per-
form. They have been Irresistible in
their dash and vigOr
London, Sept. 16.-General Persia
ing's army continues to make dne
progress. Since afternoon it las ad-
vanced from two to three miles on
33-mile front, and the guns on the
fortress at Metz have come into action
against It.
The American line at noon ran
through Norroy, on the Moselle, Hau-
mont Dancourt and to Abaucourt, on
the old line.
The enemy appears to be withdraw
ing to some farther line which will
protect the railway communications In
the vicinity Of Metz, which at present
are under the long range fire of tho
Americans.
American patrols are advancing at
various points couple Of miles be-
yond the general advances.
Artillery Sllences Huns.
In the edge of wood where the Ger
mans had concentrated there was some
smart machine gun resistance offered,
but a smashing artillery fire silenced
the enemy. A few additional prisoners
were taken.
Foe AirpIanes Driven OF.
German airplanes were unusually
active at night, but the defensive bat
teries drove them off before they had
done great damage. Allied airplanes
dropped tons Of bombs in the back
areas Of the German line.
Yanks Win 150 Square Miles
Paris, Sept. 16.-Paris and London
estimated that General Pershing had
captured more than 10000 prisoners
in the st. Mihiel drive. The following
show the bag already count
ed and that it Is possible that this
number may be much larger:
With the American Army in Lor-
raine, Sept. 16.-Capture of 1900
prisoners, mass of material and more
than 100 guns In the ST. Mihiel salient
was announced by General Pershlng.
"In the st. Mfhiel salient we secured
the desired results" the statement
said. 'In II hours we liberated 15O
square miles of territory. took $4,000
prisoners, a mass of material and more
than 100 guns