Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-16
narx GAN Dc TAKEN.
oas ohslls Hsld 70 u ons Msthed o.
Attaakina otron0hold.

AvS0SctV0 ONsVs'0vsO'Ss
Washington. Sept. l6.-The restric-
tons which, II is reported by gable,
General Pershing Is throwing around
his immediate movements are neces-
sary, according to stpn officers here. 70
screen plans of oven greater military
significance than the attack on the ST.
Mihiel salient.
These restrictions arc compared
with the order issued by General Hang
at the time he incorporating his first
drive against Cambria. WHICH burst
on the Germans like a meteor, and
surprised the Germany army with tho
forward movement Of the tanks with
out artillery preparation.
1t is noted, however that General
Pershing puts no Limitations on the
news of the capture Of towns and the
position of his army when given out
at his headquarters.
Metz Strongly Fortified.
The particular action which stan
officers think Is demanded by the
relative position OF General Pershings
advancing army and that OF the Ger
mans falling back on Metz is the siege
of Metz.
InlS IOTtTeSS has
six or seven miles around 1t. 1t was
thought imp-egnab.e during the
Franco German war, but 1t was in
vested by the Germans, and Marshal
Bazaine was forced to surrender with
about 100000 men.
There appeared to be only one opin-
ion here today, in the absence OF Of
ficia1 announc shient, Of General PERISH
ing's intentions, and that Is that the
reduction Of Metz will be necessary II
the general and continuous forward
movement of the American army oper-
ating in that region is to be realized.
Great stress is laid here on the fact
that there Is no known artificial Tor
LITIGATION which can resist the attack
of gas shells. 1t Is particularly noted
in this connection that gas shells
have not always been effective
against trenches because the range is
always a matter of delicate calcula-
ton.
Could Be Forced by Gas.
That difficulty does not beset the ar
tillerists, however, in delivering gas ot
any other shells against fort whose
position and distance are known to
mathematical certainty. The siege OF
Metz by General Pershing may, there
fore, be totally different operation
from that OF Won Moltke's artillery
against the citadel. 1t will be quite
different even from the battering OF the
defenses Of Lege by the German big
guns at the opening OF the war.
The task ahead Of General Pershing
now seems to be to stabilize his army
with special reference to the capture OF
Metz. Opinion seems to be gaining
ground that 1t would not be good mill
tary policy for him to advance and
leave an army Of say SOC, 1000 Germans
in the fortresses who would be in
position to make flank attack. There
Is, however, also the opinion that as
soon as the bombardrneht OF Metz be-
gins with the gas shells, the fortress
will be untenable and that there will be
a further German retreat.
To Be No let-Up.
The whole spirit of General March's
statements to the press yesterday was
that there was to be drive after drive,
with the American army sweeping into
Germany. The plan TOR the advance
thru the st. Mihiel salient was worked
out by the STAFF which General March
made public yesterday. and that plan
obviously included the taking Of MetS.
That can only be accomplished, 1t 10
stated, by a battering Of the outer
works by field and siege guns.
The star says that a stupendous
movement like that Of the obliteration
of the st. Mihiel salient would not have,
been undertaken without a definite
plan for the capture OF Metz.
1t can be taken from either side, It
is stated. 1t Is pointed out that resist
ance would be futile against the siege
guns OF mighty caliber which 1t Is
known the American army has for this
purpose.