ADVANCE NEAR ST. MIHIEL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1918, Page 3

ADVANCE NEAR ST. MIHIEL

10,000 PRISONERS TAKEN

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. OAHU-. ASSOCIATION]

OTTAWA, September 12

The “New York 'limes” London correspondent states: The Americans on the east of St. Mibiel have advanced at the point ol’ greatest depth a distance of. five miles. The “New York World’s” correspondent on the West Front states : I lie Americans on the St Mihiel salient liavei captured approximately 10,000 prisoners, nine howitzers, guns and considerable supplies.

GERMAN VERSION. LONDON, September 12. A German report- states: —Tlio Fran-co-Ainericans attacked at St. "Mihiel bend. Fighting continues.

FALL OF ST. MTHIEL. OTTAWA, September 12. The United Press correspondent on the West Front states: “It is unofficially reported that the French have captured St Mihiel.”

HOW THE ATTACK STARTED

100 TANKS CHARGE. LONDON, September 12. The United Press correspondent- at fho American Headquarters says: The Americans and French attacked on the western side of St Mihiel salient. They aro pushing in the region of Fresnes on a 15-kilomotre front. The French, who were on the peak of the salient, kept pace with the Americans, aided in smashing in the powerful concreted Boclio first line. The tanks operated behind a dense smoke screen. The weather is ideal tor air fighting. Manv prisoners are already passing to the cages and the total will probably be large. Many prisoners are from the crack Tenth Division, which took pact in the Marne offensive in July. There is little infantry resistance. The first villages were captured in 45 minutes. The woods and other strong points were then enveloped.,

PROGRESS CONTINUES. LONDON, Sept. 13.

An American official report- states. This morning our troops, operating in the St- Miffiel sector, made considerable gains. Assisted by French units, they broke the enemy’s resistance and advanced at some points to a depth of five miles. AVe have hitherto counted eight thousand prisoners. The operation is still in progress. A French communique states: |hc American attack in the St Mihicl region is developing under the best conditions.

FRANCO-AMERIC'AN CAPTURE

ST. MIHIEL SALIENT

AND 12,000 PRISONERS

(Press Association.— Extraordinary) (Received Tins Dnv at. 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 13 The Franco-Americans have captured St. Mihicl salient and 12,000 prisoners.

the new offensive. (Received This Day at 9.2* a.m.) LONDON, Sept 13. The Dailv Chronicle correspondent on the American front says that General Pershing launched a limited objectne attack on a front of thirty io thntyseven miles front for Gicjnupose of. straightening the Saint Mihicl salient AVJ put up a night artillery preparation on a grand scale. The guns were unlimbered at one o’clock. Ihe roar the artillery recalled the attack on \oi_C 'Details of the battle have unfolded slowly but it can be saul that the Americans swept towards the second enemy position ahead ot schedule time. The resistance was not stiff, thougn it was not tame before the second line was reached, but there the sharpest encounters developed, delaying t io a The Americans, undaunted, vnlorously pushed on.

The operations augur well for the inure Nothing at, present is move outbanding than' the skill of the Ame•ican artillery fire. The Germans a - :empted to silence the American batteries fifteen minutes after they started jU t the Americans blotted out the counterfire in exactly thirty-five minutes. Other accounts show the American ulvance was narrowed to the bottleneck at Saint Mihicl, to six nines, probably to cut off two German divisions. Ihe total prisoners were nine thousand five hundred. FURTHER CONFIRMATION. (Received The United Press correspondent reports that the Americans 'completely flattened out the salient at St Milnel and the prisoners thus far number U,000. IMPORTANT RAILWAY GAINS, ji. ..,1 ride tbv at 11.25. a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. The Verdun-Toul-Nancy railway is now in the Allies possession.