davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

four hours 100000 cartridges are manu-
factured. The state of Arizona produces
enough copper to meet all the needs of the
free peoples in this war
Americans have saved hundreds Of mill
ions of bushels of wheat in order to supnlv
European needs, and have made good on ad-
mttedly less palatable grains.
These results have been achieved despite
the fact that this country, with a magnif-
cent confidence in human nature, had well
coined TO It's shores families of every race,
including many millions Of Germans, Aus
TRANS, Bulgarians and Turks, some of whom
are powerful in finance, industry, journal
ism and politics. Another disturbing factor
was Irish hostility toward Britain at time
when the transport of American troops. in
cludlng men Of Irish origin in large num-
bers, necessitated close British cooperation.
To-day the United States is absolutely solid
Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Socialists
work together and subscribe their money
INTO one common fund, for the Liberty
Loan, the Red Cross, the Knights of Coum-
bus or the Y. NJ. c. A. Ecclesiastics of the
most diverse views join with laymen in con-
ductng divine service.
@S~SSeSAA'SU
the American press, the pulpit, the plat
form and the picture houses are to-day edu
eating the whole people in their duty to
mankind, wherever life is lived on this
planet. Americans are as interested in Rus
SLAMS, Serbans, Czecho- -Slovaks and Bel
gians as they in themselves. Their
eagerness to give the other fellow hearing
almost transcends belief
The result is that all over Europe. and in
this respect do not exclude Germany, there
is spreading slowly but surely new idea
OF international relationships Allies of
diverse temperament are learning to wcrk
together. If it had not been for President
Wilson Great Britain would never have ac
cepted unity of command, and unity of COM
mand has been made possible by the won
derful-l had almost said the atfectionate-
tact displayed by Marshal Foch. It was Bis
marck, | think. who once said something
about the Importance of imponderables in
war-the spiritual factors If the morale of
the Allies is to-day miracle of determine
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
confidence Without
. Stint or Reserve

The future will test the American char
acter severely. Everything will depend
upon Americans themselves continuing to
display their present dsnterested and re-
strained attitude toward nations which are
now inevitably weaker and poorer than
themselves. All l say for Britain is
thls-we are not good at expressing our
feelings. But toward the United States
there is no tribute that we have not maid
Prayers for your President, as for our own
King, are customary in our churches and
chapels. On the Fourth of July we thanked
God for your Declaration of Independence
And we fly your flag with our own over the
Victoria tower of our houses of Parliament.
a compliment paid to no other country and
not paid as yet to our own dominions. We
have our pride, no whit less keen than
yours. We have our reactionaries. our
plutocrats, our mandarns If these THINGS
have been possible, it has only been because
Americans came to in a spirit of true
comradeshp, with open minds and unfet
tered judgment. am told that Admiral
Sims draws on British supplies for his great
fleet precisely as if he were an officer in
the British navy Whatever his requisition
may be il is honored without question.
Last week President Wilson took a bold
step. He requisitioned, as it were, the con-
hdence OF the Allies. That confidence ia
extended to him without stint or reserve
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
To-day There Is Universal
i Obedience

The American army is 3,25000O men. In
August 2750oo men were sent to Europe.
At this moment 100000 men are on the
ocean. That number approximately is
called to the colors every week. BY next
July the total will be 100000 in all.
They are drafted for a war 5000 miles
distant. Many of them will travel from
their homes distance Of 5000 miles. Un-
less wounded, they can expect no home
leave till the war is over. Some may con-
tinue on duty in an army of occupation.
During the Civil War there were draft riots.
To-day there is universal obedience. There
is no excitement The law forbids any at
tempt to dull the edge Of separation by in
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
THE Whole Allied Main Lateral
l. Line Restored to Use

Later, during the course of the opera
tions against Verdun in 1916, the branch
from Chalons to Verdun came under
German fire, and it was this isolation of
Verdun from it's railway supply that
made the situation Of that front so criti-
cal during the earlier part of 1916. AS
we all know, the main line of the Allied
lateral communications suffered further
this year. BY April 4, 1918, the Amiens
line came under the German fire, and by
May 80 the eastern line at Chateau
Thierry. The latter was released few
days after the counter offensive of July
18 and the former on August 8. But the
eastern line still lay cut further on by
Commercy, and the Verdun branch also.
The first immediate effect of the
American victory last Thursday was to
relieve both these lines, and by Friday
morning, September 13, the whole Allied
main lateral line of communication in
the West, for the first time since the
full use. The second strategic conse-
quencc of the American victory was the
approach of the Allies to the main Ger
man lateral communication, and this is
Of very high Importance
The German line in the West had for
its main railway lateral line behind the
front and serving it for concentration
and supply the railway from Metz to
Confians, Longuyon, Sedan, Mezieres,
Valenciennes and Lille. AS in the Allied
case, there are numerous minor branch
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
What Germany Is Up Against

dulgence in alcoholic liquor Men leave
with their senses fully awake, their eyes
open, knowing absolutely what sacrifice they
are making.
At st. Mlhlel they won first class vic
tory. They were commanded by their own
general and their own officers. The bulle-
tin from the battlefield was brief, unassum-
ing, indeed, scarcely adequate for the occa-
sion. Whenever I have congratulated an
American friend, he has answered that he
hopes the news was not exaggerated-n
any case, Americans we're only doing what
others had been doing in previous drives.
There could not be more generous and
helpful attitude adopted toward allies whose
nerves are somewhat on edge.
Take finance next. Britain spends about
fifteen billions year. In the twelve months
ending June 80 next the United States ex-
poets to spend twentyfour billions. During
August she spent sixty million dollars a
day, seven days week. To her friends in
Europe she has already lent many billions
Of dollars; the amount constantly leaps up.
1t is easy to live on borrowed money
That involves sacrifice. The test of pa
triotism is immediate taxation With a
critical election pending, Congress has
passed almost without discussion revenue
bill which brings taxation up to eight
billions Of dollars. That is double the Brit
ish budget.
The income and war profits taxes are
democratic. Wealth shoulders the burden
and allows labor to go almost free Yet rich
men, when I meet them, utter not word
of complaint. They treat the matter almost
as jest.
will be quite frank. If Americans wish
to finance this war easily and keep their
Liberty bonds at par they will still have to-
curtail greatly their personal expenditure
on gasolene, food and various luxuries
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

ton and hope and faith, it is not little be-
cause of the spiritual contribution made by
the United States.
Every one from the other side who visits
these shores is Immediately sensible of the
electricity in the air. The Bishop of Ok
ford who has just arrived has made this
confession. That electricity is Infectious
Letters from England tell me that in the
last three months the temper of the people
has risen from anxiety and gloom to a
splendid confidence. l have never heard
Mr. Roosevelt speak without being touched
by his reference to the Allies-their suffer
ings and their sacrifices. Toward my own
country he is particularly generous.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
It Means Cooperation,
L. Instead of Failure

| am sometimes asked what England
thinks about the alleged delays which hin.
dered American participation in the war
reply that time may have been lost in 1917
over shipbuildng and aeroplanes. l am
told that it was SO. Over choice of designs
there may have been indecision, due to a
natural desire to go one better. In any
case, Americans had to please not only their
own experts, but also the experts of allies
who were each convinced that their own
patents are the best. All that is now over
If America places orders in Europe it is to
save tonnage and assist the European ex-
change. 1t means not failure, but coopera-
tion.
For consider the position to-day In Au-
gust there we're delivered sixty eight ships
or more than two a day, with total tom
mage of 349,000 tons. In September 100000
tons will be delivered. Next year the out
put will be about 100000 TONS Hog ISL
and. with 1S0 hulls on the slips, was waste
desert one year ago. And the same is true
of other new shipyards. There are about
$50 of them around 5000 miles of coast,
more are developing, and Americans make
it clear that the vast mercantile marine will
never be used unfairly after the war.
could fill this page with bewildering fig
ures showing what the United States con-
tributes in munitions. Mr. Ford is a peace
full man. but he is suspending his usual
business, handing back his usual profits and
turning out one Eagle warship for his coun-
try every day. On one day, August l, rs 900
military automobiles were ordered On
warehouses alone $25O,O0O00O has been
spent. The output of grenades is 100000
month. and rapidly rising. Every twenty
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
Why There Is Heavy
w Work Near Soissons

Ceaseless French and American press
ure in front of Laon-that is, against
st. Gobain and the west end Of the
Chemin des Dames-had for its object
not to outfiank this immensely strong
position, though that might come from
accident, but the pinning Of the great
enemy forces at the very apex of the
dangerous bulge they hold between Yer
dun and the sea. That is why at the
same time of this attack on the st,
Mihiel salient you hear Of heavy work
north of Scissors.
But the Germans north Of Carhrai
have got behind good water line, which
impedes the tanks. They can spare men
At what rate and in,what numbers can
they spare them to get down south and
hold Lorraine? Upon the answer to that
question depends the remainder Of this
years campaign. So far they have onlv
got one division down, only one that has
been identified at least. They have lost
the initiative. They cannot tell when ths
next blow will fall. They may guess It
VIII not be in the north, but thew "a,
only guess. And wherever they concen.
trate they will be imperilled by having
proportionately diminishing force CON.
pared with their opponents on soma
other sector of the line Their stratepical
position is unenviable.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
The Americans Strike Heavily at the
Line From Argonne to the
Swiss Frontier
Author of elements of the Great War; Most
Military Critic
By HILAIRE BELLOC

~HE American victory on Thurs
day, September IL, has two great
items of interest attached to it
fact and question. The fact is
the extreme precision of the operation;
The question is how quickly and on what
scale the enemy will be able to bring
men down south from his congestion in
me north between Rheims and Arras.
The extreme precision of the American
work was unexpected by the enemy and
must rank as new asset against him.
The enemy certainly expected that the
new army raised from the smallest pos
sjble nucleus of professionals, rapidly
trained and (in their eyes) little more
than militia, would be necessarily def
cent in staff work. SO long as the Amer
lean units were only fighting brigaded
with the British or French, or even later,
when they acted in isolated divisions un-
der French command, the enemy could
cherish this illusion.
Now that the first general action un-
dertaken by force mainly American
and under American command has
proved more exact and rapid than any
other of the war he must completely re-
wise his view. He, and the Allies, too,
tor that matter, are in possession of a
new fact, which gravely alters the
chances of the campaign against the Cen
trail Powers and in our own favor.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
re Foes Weak Link Is Laid Open Bv Pershin6's VICTORY
How Quickly Can the Hun Bring
Down Forces From Between
Rheims and ArraS?
Copyright, 1918, New York Tribune Inc.

lines behind the main one. For instance,
if the junction at Confans came under
close-range Allied fire, the work could 20
on, though less easily, round by Thion-
vile and Fontoy or Luxembourg. But be-
hind Longuyon, the junction for Luxem-
burg, there is no branch line. There is
here the great mass of the Ardennes
hills and forests, and if the railway is
reached and cut just here the whole unity
Of the German lateral communications is
destroyed. That is the vital matter. 1t
would mean that the German army in
the West would be compelled to act in
the future as two separate armies de-
pendent upon two separate lines of sup
ply, with no direct communication be-
tween them. The enemy could not rush
men up north or down south to meet
each new blow. He would have to go
around through Belgium with loss Of
time of several days, and that would be
fatal to him.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
>hrusting the Germans Out of
Il the Upper Meuse Valley

The formation Of the Woevre is clay.
1t is sparsely inhabited, very bad going
In wet weather and full Of ponds, shall
low meres and numerous woods.
The Germans held all this plain of the
Woevre, and their organization stretched
westward SO far that the tin of their
triangle included few miles of the hills
and reached the Meuse itself at the little
town of St. Mihiel, from which the whole
salient took it's name. The pinchinc
out of the salient has had the effect of
removing the Germans everywhere from
the upper Meuse Valley above Verdun
The river and all the eastern heights
bounding it are in the hands of the
Allies, who now look down from the
SUBMITS upon the plain below, which is
crossed diagonally by the new German
line from near Fresnes, Immediately at
the foot of the hills, to Pagny, far off
on the Moselle.
Though the operation was in no way
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
LIE Must Weaken His
Al Other Fronts

The lines are not yet in danger The
American victory does not yet bring
Confans nearer than 10000 yards from
the furthest possible forward emplace-
ment of the heavy guns nor Longuyon
nearer than $4,000 yards; but it pro-
vldes line from which advance but a
few miles would put both these functions
out of action, and in the case of the Sec
ond one would strike q fatal blow at the
eneny's lateral communications. He
knows that we'll enough and will mass
to defend that railway. But he cannot
be everywhere; and to compel him to
mass there is to compel his thinning his
front dangerously further south in the
open plain of Lorraine, on the sector
from Nancy to Charmes.
The third strategic result of the Amer
lean victory is more simple and apparent
to every one. 1t consists in the relative
loss of men. Two German divisions have
ceased to exist, and there has been a
total loss in killed, prisoners and wound
ed of at least 10000, and all that has
been the work of twenty-four hours.
The price paid in Allied, especially
American, casualties is known to be
slight, though the actual figures, Of
course, are kept secret.
This. loss is serious to the enemy at
the present moment. Apart from two
new tactical assets of the Allies, the new
tanks and the American unit of COM
bat, which, as have explained before, is
virtually new tactical instrument, the
great peril OF the Germans is the rapidly
increasing disproportion between their
numbers and ours. Long ago, August
20, they had to break up eight divisions
to fill their gaps, and they had to send
for Austrian reinforcements, and the
number of these which can be spared is
limited. To have two divisions DESTROYED
and from four to six more hammered
in one brief operation of twenty-four
hours, with the immediate loss of 10000
men, is at least heavy blow.
There remains the question Of how
rapidly and upon what scale the enemy
can bring troops southwark, south and
east Of Rheims and the Argonna, to meet
the menace which imperils his exist
cnce. AS my readers know, three-qusr.
ters Of the German strength was con-
centrated for attack before June IS
north and west Of the Argonne, only
one-quarter held the other half of the
line from the Argonne to the Swiss from
tier. And one-half was concentrated for
attack between Arras and Rheims alone.
When the attack was suddenly turned
into anxious defence upon July 18 this
congestion in the north was pinned and
kept there by the perpetually increasing
and lengthening Allied assaults, which
gave no respite from July 18 to the
present day, and which compelled the
Germans still to concentrate in the
north.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

This remark applies not to wealthy people
only, but to the rank and file who drink ice
cream sodas and spend dollars at time
with the barber. There will have to be con-
centration on essential industries. But this
is only a question of leadership Americans
themselves quite willing.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

Chateau Thierry and Chalons to Bar
le-Duc and Nancy, with a branch going
off to Verdun. There are, of course,
plenty of other lesser branch lines be-
hind these two main lines, but they are
often single track roads and far less we'll
provided with buildings, repair shops and
sidings. By this long avenue of railway
to Nancy the Allies could most quickly
move their troops and supplies back and
forth along the line of the front, a mat
ter of high Importance, because rapidity
Of movement, especially in concentra-
ton, is the essence of surprise, and,
therefore, of victory.
Now, for a matter of ten or twelve
miles, near Commercy, the eastern rail-
way runs through the trench of the
upper Meuse and along the bank of that
river, while the most important branch
line runs down the valley to Verdun.
When the Germans reached St. Mihiel,
September %, 1914, they were actually
across few yards of the Verdun branch
and had under their guns few miles
Of the main line below Commercy.
Therefore, from that day to last Thurs
day, that is, nearly four years, the main
Allied lateral communication was cut
and the supply Of Nancy and Toul and
the line through Lorraine and down to
the Vosges had to go round behind,
through Goudecourt, while the direct
communication with Verdun from Nancy
was also cut
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
his Was the General
Lay of the Land

IN shape 1t was a right-angled triangle,
'"e angle Of the apex was somewhat
u,'uer W degrees and it's longer side ran
almost due east and west for twenty
"e miles, as | have said, from the
n0Selle Just below Pont-a- Mousson to
'1e Meuse at the Camp des Romans
,'V's and hill) and St. Mini |, and even
~; .W a few hundred yards yond that
@ ".s thence it turned sharply slightly
Ss0I OF north to make the shorter side
y. VIC triangle, about fifteen miles, to a
~ ps'nI west of F'resnes. The hypothenuse
@'S triangle was somewhat under
."'i'S miles. 1t is this area, the impor-
'aace OF which will be seen in moment,
vi mat was cleared with such astonishing
r, IN the course of last Thursday.
'ne enemy had intended at the first
s'sn Oh attack to withdraw. For political
.s .saSons' probably, he did not retire until
sa: sae last moment and the attack was too
mAt naleA lor nm. He had long withdrawn
S0s' Wv, oi MS heavy guns and material,
n. sN'uaihg' apparently, most of his air.
s.a .a4'' out he had to leave his field guns,
'''ie r' neavles and men enough to hold his
""e 1orty miles long. The American
s'' s;s attack was on the long southern
Sae pas OF the triangle, lying east and west.
~ nu' at the same time smaller attack
~, "aS launched from the middle Of the
Mt a,;n. and shorter side between St.
'llhlel and Fresnes.
we may be certain that at the first
~. saia OF the opening bombardment the
,ss saeas from the salient began. The
|,ss.as, ss:ny old not allow, however, for the
putty OF the American action. On the
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
It Was Not a Surprise Attack,
l So More Credit Is Due

The guns opened at l a. m. the morn
ing of Thursday, September IL. The zero
hour was $50 o'clock in the morning of
Friday, September 13, just over twenty
Jour hours from the moment when the first
American troops left their trenches. Two
forces, acting on either side of the St.
Nihiel salient, met at St. Benoit, and the
enemy front had receded over segment
fifteen miles in its maximum depth and
forty miles in the total front and nearly
two hundred square miles in area. Over
$4,000 prisoners already had been counted
and sixty guns captured. The operation
was so exact and, therefore, SO brief that
The first details can be rapidly told.
There was no surprise. The enemy
newspapers had discussed for weeks the
mmnence of an attack between the
Nleuse and the Moselle. The greater
credit therefore, is due to the success of
The enterprise. AS no effort at sur
prlse was intended, a preliminary bonn
Oardment of no less than four hours was
delivered along the whole southern front
Of the salient.
A little after daybreak Thursday last
The right central half of this front from
point south of the isolated land to the
Germans cssentlaD observation post of
the high Montsec to a point just west
OF the famous Bois lie Pretre was the
scene of a sudden assault by the Ameri-
can infantry. 1t was the first operation
on such scale attempted by them since
their entry into this campaign. They
attacked along front of eleven miles
out of a total of twenty-five between the
Aoselle and the Meuse.
There wss no continuous water OBJ
ssacle here, only an isolated pond far
behind the line. The tanks could do their
work. The German line broke hopelessly.
oy the middle of the morning the ad-
Vanced units were already near Thiau-
court, and shortly afterward they held
mat town, between five and six miles
from their point Of departure four to
SIX hours before.
Here let me describe the salient which
has been reduced.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

to IN these columns. The first goes from
CALAIS and Boulognc through Amens to
Paris. 1t is the main line of the North
ern Railway Company in time of peace.
The second goes from Paris through
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

a main offensive and was but the pre-
ude to what must follow, it is certain
that important strategic results must i'm
mediately attach to it.
The first is the release of the main
New-York tribune., 1918-09-22

eastern railway from Bar-Ic- Due to
Nancy. This main lateral communica-
ton of the Allies during all these years
of war in the West consisted of two great
trunk railways perpetually referred