Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-14
YANKEES DRIVE TO BORDER
OF GERMAN TERRITORY AS
CANNON BLAST ME- EFFORTS
Keystone of Kaiser's Def ense Brought Within the
Range of U. S. Fire as Victory Grows-En-
emy Stronghold Faces Peril of Flank.

Paris, Sept 14.-German prisoners taken by Gen
eral Pershings forces since the beginning of the Am
erican offensive in the St. Mihel salient Thurs
day said to total twenty thousand.
London, Sept. H. (By the Associated Press, 80
p. M General Pershings troops in their opera
tions in the St. Mhiel sector by this morning had
increased the number of Germans captured to 5000.
In addition to the 5,OUO Germans captured by the
Americans in the ST. Mihel salient prisoners
coming in The inside of the pocket has not yet
been cleared and it is expected that guns will
be taken
The German counter attack against the French
advancing the Aiette river front appeared to
have been weak although the front line strong
ly held The German prisoners say they had orders
to hold at all costs.
YANKS GAIN 13 MILES.
The maximum depth Of the new positions taken
by the American forces in the St. MhieI sector is
13 miles from the former line
Paris, Sept. 14.-General Pershing's first Ameri-
can army is hammerng at the fortress of Metz.
After the most sensational drive Of the war,
drive which, in SO hours, wiped out Germany's last
big salient in France Pershings troops are standing
on the Moselle riyer-within gunfre of the forts
protecting Metz, keystone of the German line from
the English channel to Switzerland.
GERMANS IN PANIC.
Washington, Sept. 14.-The American offensive
at their very doors and stories of long range gun
about to be turned loose upon their towns is giving
the war a new aspect to the Germans An official
dispatch from France today says there evidences
of great excitement everywhere the German
border. herman papers remind the public that those
who spread such rumors or the punishment they may
incur and say there is not the slightest for
anxiety but at the time continue to publish the
reports.
Berlin, Sept. ID, (via London) Between the
Lorraine hills and the ellie river the St. Mhei
sector yesterday passed with moderate activity the
official war statement says The enemy did not
tinue his attack.
East of Combres and northwest of Thiaucourt the
enemy felt his way forward toward the German line.
tBy the Associated Press.
The Americans after eliminating the ST. Mihiel
salient, continuing their advance. From Pagny
the Mosele river from Germany territory, the
new front extends in almost straight line TO the
vicinity of Nationwide where it advances slightly to-
ward the northwest to Fresnes. This TEduction Of
the front line from forty twenty miles places
at the disposal of the allied commanders an enor-
force of for future operations in this sec
tor other fronts Having accomplished the
task of wping out the salient the offensive move
ment continues to push forward and the further
Strengthening of the line is probable.
READY TO ENTER GERMANY
The Americans at this stage of the drive COM
nand positions favorable for direct invasion Of Ger
territory.
Although the important German fortress of Metz
is in immediate danger, its outlying Notifications
are within range of American heavy guns at Pagny.
Metz itself furnishes excellent target for allied
airmen, who already have taken advantage of the
opportunity and dropped many bombs on railway
stations and military stores in the city and vicinity
FLANK MOVE PERILS METZ.
With its strong outer protection of Notifications
frontal attack on Metz hardly could be expected but
an outfianking movement by the Americans on the
west, or by the French and Americans from the
south would force the Germans evacuate both the
fortress and the territory surrounding it.
& liz % @ a as s get s oa' Of Of ms1 1 i se sfa n. ss.4 5s handicap @
he Germans lett the railroad from In m o TAKE & 30 Towns
eTdun to o9mmeFc Toni and Grafton a distinct unts me Amer
,resty to @ the P facilities iii of oo Poa some thirty villages
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