New-York tribune., 1918-09-17
St. Mihiel Is
Gen. Pershing , S
Reply to Foe
u. S. Leader Gives Concrete
Answer to Ludendorf'
Soft Speech
By Caspar Whitney
Especial Cable to The Tribune)

fCopyright 1915 New York Tribune lnc)
PARIS, Sept 16.--St. Mihiel is
Pershing's answer to Ludendorff, who
now pretends to softer speech against
the American army as concrete ele-
ment of the Ally force, and so wise
acres that wagged their heads and
their tongues against the day when our
General Staff sought to carry through
alone its component part OF Foch's
general strategic design are silenced.
Although it is somewhat early to
discuss the campaign in retrospect. 1T
is not too soon to name as the out
standing features the thoroughness OF
the American staff's preparation and
efficiency and the precision of its
functionng, or the splendid fighting
and enduring quality of our soldiers,
who have already demonstrated their
superiority over the Boche wherever
called on; or the invaluable services of
the tanks employed, or the first
showing Of the American air service
on a large scale, which cleared the air
of the enemy planes ahead of our in
fantry, giving suggestion of what
they can do when Americans get
enough planes here to give then an
opportunity to make real impression.
Tanks Do Good Work
Unlike Cantigny. heavily prepared
by the artillery of the French, or
Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry and
Scissors, where, in numbers, the
Americans took comparatively small
but vital support part, the present is
an all-American campaign in plan. prep
aration and execution save for q
small French unit. With swift, power
full blows this largest concentration of
Americans yet made in France de-
molished German positions which had
held this menacing salient deep in the
French lines since September, 1914 -
our concentration of artillery and the
accuracy of its fire rendering the Ger
man response seemingly feeble, the
tanks completing the destruction be-
gun by the guns against the strong
Boche first line, thereby emphasizing
Initiating formidable machine gun
nests and saving hundreds of Ameri-
can lives.
We are but in the preliminary en-
gagements of this campaign, which is
destined to be finally decisive, even
epochal; we are only on the skirmish
line of positions of tremendous
strength which the Boches have long
been constructing throughout this
region from Metz westward.
.Advouco tn Glow Dou,r
We must not expect a continuance
of the pace set yesterday. Except for
machine guns, the German held their
first line lightly and are retiring to the
second which is stoutly reinforced
with both artillery and men in
quantities. Approaching Briey the
mously strong Metz-Iile line, to which
the Germans are expected to retire if
they lose Laon and st. Quentin, run
ming six miles south of Briey and
Welve, south of Longwy and past Sc
dan to Charleville, Vervins, Cambrai
and Lille. This is equally as strong as
the Hindenburg line, and like it will be
broken, though hardly this autumn, of
which not enough active campaigning
weather remains. Soon the present at
tack will expand to the important
railroads OF Toul and Nancy, to facili
tate following up the Boche and allow
the Allies to make his winter one of
uninterrupted harassment with a
mounting casualty list
Meanwhile the depth Of our advance
depends on home backing. though the
car is des,f utterly to every kind of
peace proposal that is certain to come
thick and fast from the willy and
desperate Roche.
Advice to those who want to sell their