The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-19
"succeeded" In Retiring
To The "Michael Line" "
According To Plan
NO MENTION OF
.r.-. AMERICAN ARMY
General Pershing Reports
That Prisoners Totaled
More Than 5000,
.(Rv Associated Preas- !

Amsterdam, sept l9.-Ih9 Ger
mans facing the Americans south
west Of Metz are on the Michael line.
construction of which was begun in
1915, according to a statement given
out in Berlin and which is publish
ed by The Germania. The plain and
Unvarnished truth" about the evac-
uation Of the ST.. Mihtel salient is
declared by the newspaper to be
contained in the statement which is
made public to correct erroneous
Impressions"
. THE German troops" says. the
statement, "have retired to the
Michael line which is the name of
the position on the chord of the St.
Mihiel bend. A beginning was made
in 1916 to construct the Michael
line, the purpose of which was to
afford shelter for our troops should
the arc Of the chord become unten-
able in case Of a serious attack. In
dications that such an attack was
coming became evident early in Sep
tember. --.a.s,s-s,.s .-...-, -..,y Z. =. s
'"The evacuation of the advanced
terrain accordingly was ordered long
before the attack took place. Orders
to complete the evacuation were Civ
en- on Sept. s.. Without this precau-
tion it would have been impossible
to get away the advanced frontal tli-
visions as completely as has been
the case. " ~ ~
The enemy was unable to follow III
the withdrawal movement in time.
Really serious fighting occurred only
on the wing where it was necessary
to hold the enemy advance.
lowing to the fact that here and
there our comparatively weak forces
for days had to stem the enemy rush
IT was inevitable we lost prisoners
for our troops had orders to hold to
the last against superior numbers.
These losses had to be borne to gain
time for the withdrawal Of troops
and material still in the menaced
region. ,. 80
Enemy reports about prisoners
taken seek by exaggeration to ex-
plain their failure. Our losses in
prisoners were as low as possible.
The evacuation of st. Mihiel is a
German success" . -
It will be noted that the state
ment does not disclose that "The
enemy" was the American first ar
my General Pershing has reported
that German prisoners captured
totalled more than $4,000.
---~~ Many Ready to Desert.
With the American Army on the
Vesle, Wednesday, Sept ia Ger
man prisoner captured recently sug-
gested to his captors that they send
a note from him to German soldiers,
by airplane or otherwise, explaining
that the report that Americans kill
German prisoners is untrue. He said
that many Germans were sick of
fighting and would surrender if they
were assured that Americans do not
kill their prisoners as the Germans
have been led to believe by their Of
ficers.
An appeal written in English call
ing on Americans Of German ances-
try to join the forces Of Germany has
been dropped behind the American
line by enemy aviators. 1t has also
been sent into the American lines by
means of small balloons. The appeal
asserts that in Germany the Ameri-
cans would find greater liberty and
more opportunity for advancement
than in the United States. 1t attacks
President Wilson, asserting. that he
is more English than American.
Germany is pictured as one poor little
nation defending herself against the
vicious attacks of the armies of the
whole world.