New-York tribune., 1918-09-13
Smash by u. S.
Troops Puts
Enemy i'm Trap
Closing the Neck Of Bag
Likely to Net Thousands
of Foe for Pershing

WASHINGTON, Sept. IL. - Sixteen
months cf vast war effort by the
United States reached its first goal to-
day when General Pershing's forces
struck their first independent blow in
France against the German army.
Reports tonight show that success
was meeting the American command
cr's effort to fling the enemy out of
the sharp salient thrust in behind the
fortress of Verdun in the first year of
the war. But of even greater signifi-
canoe to government officials was the
fact that the all-American attack
meant that the months of ccaseless
toll and effort have now brought forth
third great organized army, backed
by its own supplies and millions more
soldiers if needed, which has taken it's
place beside the French and British
armies and is striking for decisive VIC
tory for democratic ideals.
Wilson Greatly Interested
Up to late hour no official report
from General Pershing had come. Cen
eral March, Chief of Staff, and his off
GERS were gathered about the great war
maps, however, tracing out the lines
of the conflict from press accounts as
they were received. President Wilson
himself invited Acting Secretary Crow
ell TO the White House, during the
afternoon. and there is no doubt that
he was then told just what General
PcrSbng had accomplished and what
might be expected to develop from this
blow.
First reports were vague They told
merely that the American army had
launched an attack around the St Mi
hlcl salient, the only sharp thrust tow
ard the heart of France that remained
to the German leaders to show for the
offensive efforts since the war began
1t seemed possible that the objective of
the attack was Metz. just beyond the
German border on the Moselle River.
Using Fochs Tactics
Later accounts made it clear how
ever, that for his first blow, General
Pershing had determined to employ
the pncer tactics Marshal Foch has
now used with repeated success in
hurting the foe back from the Marne
and out Of the Picardy and Flanders
sallents. The chance lay ready to the
Almost due south of the War-wrecled
fortress Of Verdun, which has defied
every German effort, the town of St.
Mlhlel stood at the apex of great
enemy wedge driven into the French
lines and which all but cut Verdun off
IN the first German rush toward Paris
Along the eastern curve of this salient
American troops have stood for months
holding the lines. Americans also were
ON the line between Verdun and st.
Mlhlel, but st. Mihiel itself was held
by the French, for the fate of Vcrdun
rested upon that line.
Surging forward on twelve-miIe
front to the east of st. Mihiel. Per-
shlng's men have rolled over the com
phcatcd defences of the enemy all
along the line and thrust a steelshod
Jaw out INTO the territory behind the
enemy forces that hold the town. From
the other side, another American thrust
has carried the lines forward to meet
the bulge from the east, and a grim
trap is being drawn about the enemy
forces that remain in the salient. 1t
was only twenty miles across the
mouth of the pocket and the reports
tonight showed that this had been
closed in to less than fifteen miles.
Through that narrowing gap the
German forces in the depth of the
salient must escape: and to withdraw
without confusion that might turn the
retreat into rout, they must shake
off the French forces which are bat
terlng them all along the st. Mihiel
front.
May Close Neck of Bag
On the face of to-night's reports, Of
fcers here believed there was GOOD
promise that General Pershing might
succeed in closing the neck of the bag
and trapping a considerable force. The
fact that the enemy was still offering
stubborn resistance in St. Mihiel
showed there was considerable Ger
man force still IN the depths of the
trap
The American attack, as it now
and there is no doubt that the strong
est American forces yet employed are
engaged. Possibly 100000 American
troops either arc in action or in close
reserve.
The advance of the eastern law rests
on wide base. Reports indicate that
it has broken through at the first rush
he very width Of Pershings battle
ilne, however, tends to protect him. and
also to give his initial thrust the power
that will carry it across the road that
is the only line of retreat for the Ger
mans in st. Mihel.
To many officers, the action started
to-day is but the forerunner of greater
blows to come They anticipate that
] General Pershing will follow up with
out delay the clearing out of the St.
Mlhiel salient with actions of greater
scope, probably directed toward the
capture of Metz. With such an ad
vance, 1T is said French thrust from
Nerdun and along the front between
Nerdun and Rheims would go naturally v
and the great movement to force tho
enemy out of all Northern France and
much of Belgium would be well under
way ~ =
Italians Cross Piave