Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-13

MILLIONS REGISTER AS u S. ARMY ADVANCES
OBJECTIVE OF u. S.
DRIVE PROBABLY
FORTRESS OF METZ
BY J. W. T. MASON

NEW YORK, Sept. 12.-The Amefi-
can offensive has started against the
German positions southwest of Metz.
The objective may be Metz, or 1t
may be the Mormon front in Lorraine,
south of Metz, in the general direction
of the Rhine. The probability at
present is that the Americans have as
their immediate purpose the closing
up of the ST. Mihiel salient, which would
throw the Germans back on Metz and
straighten the allied front along the
German frontier.
The St MihIel salient is the most
dangerous pocket now remaining along
the whole of the German west front.
If it's destruction is the immediate pur-
pose of the American attack, an as
sisting assault may be developed by
the Franco-American forces who are
known to occupy the. line on the west
side of the wedge between ST. Mlhlei
and Verdun.
The pocket is in the form of a right
angle beginning at Verdun, then run
ming about twenty miles south of St
Mihiel and turning eastward for 20 miles
toward the German border. The MeuSe
and the Moselle rivers are the boun-
DIARIES of this twenty-five mile stretch
along which the Americans today have
started their offensive. Inc country IS
rather difficult for military operations.
1t is hilIy, and has been heavily pro-
tected with artillery by the Germans.
Nevertheless. Won Hindenburg may
well have been forced by his search
for manpower to have decided to re-
lnquish eventually the st. Mihiel
wedge It is highly improbable, how
ever, that ne has completed his prep
lrations 50 soon for this operation.
The Americans may well therefore,
nave caught him off his guard by their
sudden attack today.
The effective combatant stength Of
the American overseas forces at the
present time is probably million men.
Of these. a maximum of 100000 may
now be under General Pershing's direct
command This does not can, how
ever that anything like that number is
engaged in the offensive which began
today. The whole of the 25-mile frOIt
rast of St Mihiel between the Meuse
and the Moselle river is not held ex
ulusiVely by the Americans. Part OF the
sector. according to the latest informa~
ton, was still occupied by the French.
1t is fairly probable that not more than
= hundredr thousand American loops
are concerned in today's movement.
This number may be Increased as the
offensive increases in extent
Wnetner OF not II Will increase III uc-
gree depends not only on the local sit
uation about St. Mihiel, but also on the
strategic conditions that may be affect
ed in western France by the American
offensive. At present there is reason
TO believe that General Pershing's plans
are not dominated by an intention OF
forcing the war into its final stage by
gradually bringing all of his Ameri-
can forces into the combat at this time
Ii is impossible, however. for Won
Hindenburg TO be sure of General Per
shing's ultimate intentions The pos
sibility certainly exists that the Amer
leans may undertake to establish
themselves well within German terri
tory before winter puts an end to the
military operations.
Won Hindenburg has suddenly had
this new problem thrust upon him
while faced with the grave responsible
ity of trying to move his troops out
of western France with a minimum of
losses. The timing of the American
offensive has been made to develop this
very dilemma for the German general
staff.
The American threat must be read
by the German general staff as a men
ace directed against German soil. The
defense Of German soil has the prime
call upon Won Hindenbergs forces.
The American attack will have TO be
met by drawing upon permanent Ger
man reserves whose number has al
ready been reduced to dangerously
small proportions.
The headquarters of part Of this per-
manent reserve force was Metz up to
the time of the German offensives which
began last March. AS Won linden
burg became more and more involved
in his failing efforts to win a decisive
victory, he called upon the Metz de-
pots to make good his losses in west
ern France. To what extent the Metz
reserves were depleted is not known.
If Won Hindenburg is driven to
desperate defense of the pocket he must
sacrifice his manpower for position
which is no longer of strategic impor-
tanCe.
1t. Mihiel was originally occupied oy
the Germans eraly in the war as an
offensive base. 1t is now a defensive
outpost for Metz and its capture o.!
the Americans with the closing of the
salient will serve to make Metz more
vulnerable.