The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-14
TITS HOT STUFF
SMILES THE CHIEF
Gen. March Pays Highest Trib-
ute to Work OF the Individ-
ual Soldier
AND TO PERSHING's STAFF
Uses Heated Language to De-
nounce Rumors as to U. s.
War Program.
AND TO PERSHING'S STAFF
(By John Edwin Nevln)

Washington. ID. c., Sept. l.-U. n.
Silt was hot stuff"
Smiling broadly, Gen. Peyton O..
March. chief OF staff, in the above
words today characterized the work OF
the American forces In eliminating the
ST. Mihiel salient and the consequent
reduction OF that sector by twenty-five
miles in less than two days. The sa-
iient. he said was the narrowest and
most angular on the entire western
front.
Tho operations there. he said. not
only were a tribute to the work OF the
staff but to the individual soldier.
Praising the personal staff OF Gen.
Pershing he said this staff initiated
and planned the entire maneuver. Their
work was most brilliant As result
the salient of st. Mihiel. which existed
since September. 1914. today Is but
memory. while the great railway lines
Of communication from Verdun which
have been lost to the French since that
time today are again in operation.
The operations of the American army
In the present fighting. the chief OF
staff said, has been carried out with
the same high spirit and rapidity OF
action that has characterized every
rived in France.
In this connection, Gen. March called
attention to the fact that the German
communiaue in which their general
staff asserted they had withdrawn
without interference failed to take into
account that $4,000 prisoners that they
left behind. more than the total
strength OF an entire German combat
division. The reduction Of The salient
Of st. Mihiel reduces the western front.
Gen. March explained. by twenty-five
miles. in addition to clearing UP every
important line of communication.
Speak for Themselves.
However Gen. March made II plain
that the operations at st. Mihiel speak
for themselves. He departed from his
usual reserve to discuss In heated
language references made In n certain
portion OF the American press that
America was not going through with
her entire military program such
stories are nreposterous In their falsity.
The general declared. The very fart
that the army asked congress to enroll
ali men between the ages of 1S IN 45.
and was about to ask for 81 900 000. 900
additional to carry on the war was
additional, proof rositive that the ma
tion Is determined to go forward until
it gains n complete victory. Incident
nllv. this statement that $1,000, 100000
additional are to he asked from con-
gress was the first intimation OF the
great amount that will be required to
cauip and put into the field the new
armics that r~n to he formed.
Fifteen Ships in Port in Day.
As an instance of the great work
that is being done now by the army,
Gen. March read n cablegram from
France, which stated that on the aft
ernoon when 1t was filed. $4,000 men
came ashore and 1900 were to he dis
embarked tomorrow. and on that same
late fifteen ships arrived at noon In
fhe harbor of which number twelve
welve would be cleared and on return
dea of the immensity OF the task which |
was being carried out and the speed |
With which the army and navy were |
In getting the men and sup |
,lies where they were needed.
II also shows the greatly increased |
efficiency of the secvice Of supplies
If the handling OF troops and men.
Pleased, UndisguisedIy.
Gen March made no attempt to dis
yuise his pleasure over the way the
Americans are carrying out their task
n the st. Mihieli district.
On the first day OF their operations.
10 said, they advanced FIVE miles on
he southern side Of the salient and
hree miles on the north. On the sec
md day they had 1t entirely wiped out.
rhe very fact that this entire oper-
ltion was planned by Gen. Pershing
md his personal staff, spoke volumes
or their worth Ger.. March said.
In Tho panprnl situation.
len. March stated since last Satur-
lay the allies have continued their
dvance on a forty mile front. Today.
It the farthest point away, they are
nly five miles from the old Hinden-
urg lines. The advance naturally has
lowed down somewhat. due to COM
ng within range Of the larger Ger
nan guns.
In Flanders the Belgians have taken
yer a Mx-mile front from the British
nd have advanced in the region or
)ixmude to the northeast of Ypres.
he British also have made and are
1aking advances in the vicinity OF
a. Bassee canal.
The 42nd division-the rainbow
,ade up of troops from every section
{ the United States, continues to win
,urels from high official sour IS. The
ltest comes from Gen. Naulin. COM
handing the Twenty First French
rmy. In i he declared that on the
We of the departure Of the 42nd from
is command he desired to pay tribute
, their wonderful yalor and ardor and
, their assistance in breaking down
ne German offensive In the Cham
agne. Gen. March remarked that
verywhere this division had appeared
the fighting it has won commenda-
on from the allied commanders.
This was typical Of the spirit Of the
ntire American army. Their dash and
ghting ability has enabled them. the ..
loment they were thrown on their
wn initiative, to achieve even more ..
IAN was expected of them.
For obvious reasons Gen. March had
othing to say as to any future move
tents Of Pershing's first field army. :
has been given the task of reducing ..
nd eliminating the st. Mihiel salient. ,
hat was accomplished. Its next (.
ovement will be reported by Gen. !
ershing himself.
Gen. March said the 29th division,
of Virginia, Maryland. New {
srsey, Delaware and District of
troops, now Is on the line In
10 Vosges.