The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-09-17

AMERICAN ARMY STRIKES SUD-
DEN BLOW SMASHING HUN LINE
Cc-siiing Launches Attack On a 20
E-.le Battle Front Gaining Ground
Everywhere.-Americans Take 7OJ
Prisoners in Initial Stages of Battle
and Suffer Remarkably Light Casu-
elites.
The American first army undec
command of Gen .Pershing is in ac-
ton against the Germans on a twenty
mile front on the famous st. Mihiel
salient in Lorraine, which has stood
as a sharp wedge in the French line
southeast of verdun since the COM
mencement of the war.
In the preliminary thrust ground
was gained on both sides of the trian-
gle and also at apex at ST. Mihiel and
at last accounts the Americans with
whom some French troops are briga-
ded, were fast sweeping across the
salient in an effort. to close the mouth
of the big pocket before the Germans
can extricate themselves from the
perilous position they are in as a re-
suit of the suddenness of the blow
and the element of surprise it carried
with it.
FOUR NILE ADVANCE
Although the advance of the Ameri-
cans was swift and sure and gains IN
excess of four miles on the southern
side of the hattie area were made, the
cavalry outstripped the tanks ami
footmen and was last reported operat-
ing along the railroad near Vigneulls
almost in the center oflthe salient and
some ten miles northeast Of st. Mihiel
and also northwest Of Pont-a-Mous-
son, through the forests and along the
railway line running northWard TO
Metz, the great German fortress. the
southern outer fertifcatious Of which
are less than ten miles distant.
Thiacourt. Bouillouyiile, Panaes
and several other towns in the south
were captured in the initial dash.
while on the west at the northern
edge of the pocket, the village of
Combres was captured and the envir-
ons of Dammartin-la- Montague were
reached. To the south everywhere
the Americans penetrated into the
heights CT the Meuse and the French
fought their way into the outskirts OF
st. Mihiel. Unofficial reports are to
the effect that the town has been re-
captured by the French.
200-Nfile Front.
The lighting front at the commence
ment of the battle aggregated twenty
mile-eight miles on the western side
and twelve miles on the southern
side. The fighting was preceded By
an extereme heavy artillery lombard
ment and the troops and tanks ad-
vaneed under barrage which was car
ried cut with mathematical precision.
From the war maps it would seem
almost impossible for the Germans TO
evacuate the salient as they apparent
1y are trying to do without huge loss
es in men and material The first re-
ports show that the Americans took
700 prieoners in the first stages OF
the battle and had suffered remark
ably small casualties.
Foeh's Strategy,
The strategy of Marshal iFoch in the
present vancouver cannot he fore
seen except that it has as the first
objective the levelling Of the St.
;Mihiel sector and the Strengthening
of the allied line from the region of
verdrn eastward The obliteration Of
the salient would be necessary before
direct thrust toward German terri
tory from this reoion would be posi-
HE Whether Marshal Foch has i'll
view a campaign up the Meuse valley
o. Natz. and the Mosn1la valley IN
mind remains to be seen.
Y, the north Field Marshal Haig IS
still hard after the Germans in the
-noson of Cambria. Hare he again has
advanced his front toward the much
desired German base; penetrated in
10 the old British defense lines; cross
cd the Canal IN Nerd north Of IHa5in-
court; taken Harrvincourt and 9Th
er section of the Hindenburg line
o-a sent a thousand Germans into
IL