Arizona republican., 1918-09-13
ARMY |S
 IN ACTION IN
 20-M|[EFR0NT I
Americans Gain Ground and
 Sweep Across Salient In An Effort to Trap Huns
 In Pocket In Lorraine
(By The Associated Press)

The American first army under com mand of General Pershing is in action against the Germans on a 20-mile front in the St. Mihiel salient in Lorraine which had stood a sharp wedge in the French line southeast of Nerdun since the commencement of the war
 In the preliminary thrust ground was gained on both sides of the triangle and also at it's apex at St. Mihiel and at last accounts the Americans with whom some French troops are brigad- ed. 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 result of the suddenness of the blow and the element of surprise it carried with it.
 Gains Exceed Four Miles
 Although the advance of the Ameri- cans was swift and sure and gains in excess of four miles on the southern side of the battle area were made, the cavalry far outstripped the tanks and fOotmen and was last reported operat ing along the railroad near Nigneulles almost in the center of the salient and some ten miles northeast of St. Mihiel and also northwest of Pont-a- Nous son, through the forests and along the railway line running nOrthWard to Metz, the great German fortress, the southern outer Qualifications of which are less than ten miles distant. | Thiaucourt Bouillouville, Pannes 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 environs of Dom martin la Montague were reached. To the south everywhere the Americans penetrated into the heights of the | Mouse and the French fought their way into the outskirts of St. Mihiel. Un- official reports are to the effect that the town has been recaptured by the French.
 American Casualties Small
 The fighting front at the commence ment of the battle aggregated 20 miles eight miles on the western side and F miles on the southern side The fighting was preceded by an extremely heavy artillery bombardment and the troops and tanks advanced under bar rage which was carried out with math- ematical precision. From the war maps it would seem almost impossible fol the Germans to evacuate the salient as litS dpPdItIlAS diV U HIS Ap bO 'itii out huge losses in men and material The first reports show that the Amer jeans took roo prisoneds in the first stages of the battle and had suffered remarkably small casualties.
 Foch's Strategy Puzzling
 The strategy of Marshal Foch in tht present maneuVer cannot be foreseer except that it has as the first ob iec+ive the leVelling of the St Mihie sector and the strengthening of thu allied line from the region of Verdur eastward The obliteration of th' salient would be necessary before an! thrust toward German territory iron this region would be possible. Whethe Marshal Foch has in view a campaign up the Mouse valley, or Metz and thu Moselle valley in mind remains to b. seen.
 Haig Hard After Germans
 In the north Field Marshal Haig stil is hard after the Germans in the re zion of Cambrai. Here he again ha advanced his front toward the mucl desired German base. penetrated int the old British defense line, crosse , the canal du Nord north of Havrin court and another section of the Hin denburg line and sent thousand Ger , mans into the British prison cage i : the rear. The Germans fought hard a Havrincourt to stay the British bu all their counter attacks were beate f off
 Further advances for the Britis also are reported in the region south ( f La Bassee canal and northwest of Ar mentieres.