Evening star., 1924-09-11
ST. MIHIEL DAY

little lakes or large ponds and here
and there broken by small woodlands,
in contrast to the considerable for
ests near the Meuse and the Moselle.
This frontal attack from south to
north was the main thrust, but a
secondary attack was to be made
from the north side. designed to join
hands with the southern thrust be-
hind the nose of the salient and in
the plain just at the foot of the
Heights of the Meuse about the viii
lage Of Vigneulles. When this juno
tion had been made all the German
troops in the nose of the salient
would be surrounded and captured
and then the victors would pursue
the Germans down the valley of the
Mad Brook until they came up
against the new German defense sys-
tions.
x K X X
The American Army is thus ranged
and commanded: Hunter Liggett,
with the LIST Corps, rests his right
on the Moselle; he has four divisions,
the SGD. 90th, 5th and Cd, in line,
the last alone veteran unit. On
the left of Liggett is Dickman, COM
manding the 4th Corps, CONSISTING
of the S9th. 42d and 1st Divisions,
the two last named already veterans
Ihe lst Will have Mont Sec at it's
left and will advance by it, covering
us nank rather imperfectly with a
smoke screen.
All of the salient from the front
of the 1st Division right round to
the northern side will not be IT.
tackled and French troops will main
tain connection. On the north side
the 5th Corps, Gen. Cameron COM
manding. composed of the 26th and
4th American and the 18th French
Colonial. The 26th will strike south
ana seek to join hands with the 1st
coming north. Their rendezvous is
the village of Vigneulles. Nine
American divisions are thus involved
ut ohfS seven VIII be actually en-
gagged. All told, the attacking force
VIII contain about 100000 American
troops and 10000 French. 1t will he
supported by great air and artillery
concentrations, in the main supplied
by the French.
After four hours Of bombardment
one of the heaviest of the war to
date. the troops leave the trenches
lo!lowing the rolling barrage. The
attack on the north side. however
ooes not begin until s am. Dawn
OF the 18th sees the meeting of the
se'n ana the 1st and the completion
me destruction of the salient,
troops or the Yankee division inst
peatinR the veterans Of the 1st in,o
Figneulles. i't INTO
me oooty included $1,000 prisoners
ana 443 cannon. the cost was mn
casualties, one of the most profitabIa
ana least expensive days in the VIZ
up TO that moment. Ludendorff
iater admits that several good divi-
SONS were destroyed. among them
an Austrian sent to back up tho
Hermans in quiet sector to release
IerHlan dlVision for use elsewhere.
ms 49, l think, the sole encounter
between an Austrian unit and anv
considerable American force during
tne whole war and one of the rare
appearances of Austrian troons on
the western front.
X I; X r
Very briefly the lines s,ahi,ized
themselves on the new front tho
americans looking toward Metz
across the nearby battlefields of
Iravelotte and Mars-la-Tour. famous
IN Is'o; both the railway lines were
IFeed from German control and tho
way was open for the Meuse Areonne
oattle, which would follow that of
81. Mlhfel by only two weeks. Com
plete within itself. the battle of 81.
Mihlei was the, final and shatter-
ing demonstration to the Germans
that America had arrived and to the
european allies that henceforth
american contribution would be con-
siuerabie ana effective. Foch, already
completing his plans for the final
and general offensive from the Mems
to the Scheldt and the User. could
go ahead, confident OF decisive
American aid.
In no sense decisive, the battle of
ST. Mihiel was nevertheless of very
real Importance, well planned, well
executed, won by relatively green
troops commanded by inexperienced
officers in the main. involving the
capture Of positions strongly fortified
ana long held, the first American
battle in Europe. The decision to OBJ
serve the day hereafter thus not only
fortifies the memory of one of the
brightest pages in American military
history, but also emphasizes the birth
day OF that victorious general who led
his troops only to success and headed
the largest American Army which ever
has engaged in battle. and directed the
operations of the most considerable
engagements in our history.
The magnitude of Gen. Pershing's
achievement has been little OBJ
scured by the rush of postwar events
and the general, if momentary, neglect
Of recent events. Beyond all doubt
history will repair this temporary
neglect, and this anniversary, which
marks the end Of his active military
career. should give him some proof Of
the enduring national gratitude for his
service and pride in his achievement,
alike in fighting his Army and in
making it.
Copyright. 1924, by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.t