Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-12
SEEK TO WIPE OUT
ST. M|H|EL SALIENT
German Citadel of Metz May
Be Goal of Ameri-
can Armies.
PERSHING HAS BIG FORCE
PERSHING HAS BIG FORCE
By. the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press. :
American and French troops
today began an offensive on a
twenty-mile front in Lorraine,
near the German border. The
movement evidently is aimed
primarily at the elimination of
the famous St. NIihiel salient,
which for more than four years
has projected into the allied line
southeast of Verdun.
The attacks were launched on both
sides of the salient-on a twelve-mile
front on the south and an eight-mile
front on the westerly side. The as
saults were progressing favorably at the
latest reports.
Metz May Be Objective.
There have been many predictions
in unofficial quarters recently that an
American offensive movement was
likely to be witnessed this fall, and
Lorraine has been mentioned as one
attack.
The German citadel of Metz lies only
some fifteen miles to the northeast OF
Pont-a- -Mousson, at the easterly edge
of the salient under attack, and 1t
seems not beyond probability that
this may be further objective of the
offensive, should it develop favorably
in the crushing out or material re-
duction Of the salient.
The removal of this salient, in fact
would seem to be a necessity before
any drive in great force into German
territory on this front were attempt
ed. as otherwise the German forces to
the west would be left in q threaten
ing position on the left flank of the
attacking armies.
Pershing Has Huge Army.
It is known that Cen Pershing has a
huge American Army under his COM
mand, and there seems little doubt that
adequate forces would be at the dis
posal Of Marshal Foch for an important
push in this sector were the opening
moves to develop a suitable opening.
The ST. Mihiel salient is nearly twenty
miles wide at its mouth, from Fresnes,
twelve miles southeast of Verdun. to
Pont-a-M -Mousson. and somewhat more
than fifteen miles in depth, with its
apex Just to the southwest OF st. Mlhlei.
1t was driven into the French line in
sudden German eruption southeast Oh
Verdun early in the fall of 1914, before
the line had become entirely stabilized
after the Marne and Aisne battles.
Checked by the French.
The French checked the German
push near st. Mihiel and prevented a
debouching movement on the banks.
The positions taken by the Germans
were strong ones, however, and there
is on record no previous organized at
tempt to reduce this menacing bulge
pointing at the heart of France be-
tween the -fortresses of Verdun and
Nancy.
Marshal Foch has caused the launch
ing Of this attack almost coincidently
with the virtually complete elimina-
ton of the various salients the Ger
mans drove into the allied lines in
their offensives during the present
fighting year. The Hindenburg line
had again become the German de-
fensive position along almost us en-
tire length and the German defense
was stiffening materially at all points
where the French, British and Amer
leans were pressing in upon them.
New Problem for Foe.
The German command now will have
it appears, another problem to meet
in dealing with the outbreak of its
foe in another and comparatively d;s-
tant quarter from that in which the
bulk of the fighting has been done in
this years campaign. The question
will be, it seems, whether the reduced
German man power has lsft Gen. Lu-
dendorff with forces Iufficient to
| maintain his front from Rheims to
Ypres and at the same time beat back
a powerful thrust by the allies far to
| the southeast on the battle front.
British Make Progress.
Tho Hindenburg line itself. how
ever. already has not proved too
strone for either the French or this
BritiSa 81 some potnts In the reeent