The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-12-07

the tanks aided them Sredlly-oul
the fresh American troops attacked
iercelv. On August I made this
notation: Il have just received word
that there are % American divisions
in France, of which Is are at the
front. They are training more in
England. I did not count upon such
quick and extensive work. They are
becoming dangerous"
A word about the American ne
groes. The Ninety-Third Division,
made up of colored men, was op-
posed to me. Later these negroes
were distributed by brigades among
French divisions. We Germans telt'
as white men, that the use of colored
troops against us was reprehenslDle
and dangerous for the white races or
the whole world. But it must be ad-
mitted that the American negro IS
different from the Senegalese negro
or the Moroccan. The American gov
ernment proba bly, had no choice out
to use the black men, since they had
full rights of citizenship over there.
The Triangle of St. Mihiel
Before the attack on the st. LMihiel
triangle, the American troops mad
been greatly strengthened. Their
divisions had been welded together
into an army. By hebeginning ofSep-
tenlber we learned of the formation
of an independent Pershing Ameri-
can Army, which was lying between
the Second and Eighth French
Armies.
American divisions had fought
honorably in the big battles which
ended with the failure of our otren-
sive at the Marne in July and August.
It was an obvious suggestion to fol-
low up this gradual development
with some big feat, accomplished ex-
clusively or largely by American
troops under their own supreme COM
mand. An opportunity offered itself
at St. Mihiel which had long been
known.
Our position between the Meuse
and the well-known height of Com
bre, southeast of Verdun, looked like
an outstanding nose. 1t had taken
this formation after the first battle
in the summer of 1914, and had been
retained, fortified and honored as the
field of many single combats.
The foremost part of this triangle,
in front of our line of communication
with the Moselle and our position
at Verdun, projected not less than
25 kilometers (15 IA miles). 1t ex-
tended to st. Mihiel, at the bridge
head on the other side of the Meuse.
The side lines of the triangle, not
counting indentations, were about 70
kilometers GA 1-2 miles, long. We
had seven divisions that occupied this
line, but they were reduced in num-
Der, and among them were three OF
the militia and one Austrian division.
The peril of this faulty triangle
had always been patent to US. 1t lent
itself to attack on all sides. We had
repeatedly discussed the question OF
giving up this triangle. The chief
in command agreed with me that no
big battle in this territory was per-
missible
Taken by SURPRISE by Yanks.
But, while we waited, the crisis
came on apace. We never had time to
carry off the materials We had gath
cred during an occupation of several
years. On the other side lay the con-
sideration that the yielding of posi-
ton held for years would be inter-
preted as sign of weakness. Natural
ly we disregarded such considera-
tion in other parts of the theater Of
war as difficult.
There had been indications that
something was brewing on the other
side, but we were not certain as to
which direction the attack might
take. We were info med that the
objective of the Americans was Metz
and the territory east of that fortress,
which would threaten our communi-
cation with the rear.
The center of the enemy rear guard
and communications was located on
the southern side of the triangle,
while on the northwest side every
thing was quiet indicating that dan
ger in the latter quarter was remote.
Then from foreign sources came the
news that the American attack had
been postponed-that the army was
not yet ready for big offensive
movement.
We were surprised, therefore,