ST. MICHAEL’S MOUNT

ancient Mounts Bay, Cornwall, Engiand. of Verdun, on 1. bk. of the Meuse; noted Benedictine abbey (founded 709); embroidery and lace manufactures. Pop. 9,600. In the World War, after the breakdown of their invasion of Lorraine (Aug. 25, 1914), the French fell back to the Meuse defenses. On Sept. 23 the Germans established a footing on the plateau some 300 ft. above the river, and their artillery silenced the forts of Camp - des Romains and Paroche on either side of the Meuse. They took St. Mihiel, _with its bridgehead, but were prevented from making any further progre westwards. For four years the sharp salient formed by the Ger. front in this region remained practically unaltered. No further effort was made by the Germans to extend their foothold acro the Meuse. Finally, in Sept. 1918, the Americans at one blow nipped the salient out of the Ger. lines. This was the first important action in the war undertaken by the Amer. army separately. By anticipating this move the Allies reaped an immediate and profitable victory. The 40-m. front of the salient between Pont-4-Mou on and Fresnes was held by six Ger. divisions (about 50,000 men), with two AustroHungarian divisions in immediate reserve. Pershing’s first Amer. army had on the southern sector six divisions -and two in reserve. It is true that the position had been strongly fortified by the Germans in their years of occupation. On Sept. 12th the Americans began to advance on a 12-m. front between Fey and Xivray behind the shelter of the artillery barrage and tanks. By night they had achieved nearly all_ their court, and Nonsard were occupied, and the cavalry moved towards Vigneulles, near the main road of the Ger. retirement from St. Mihiel. In the meantime the northern attack had_started and carried the heights of the Meuse in one rush, although the ground was thickly wired and protected also by machine guns and ‘pill-boxes.’ Combles and Hattonchatel were taken, and by nightfall the converging attack left only a precarious pa age 4 m. wide through which the Germans could make their escape. During the night the French seized the bridgehead and town ' of St. Mihiel, and in the morning the net was closed, some 15,000 prisoners and over 100 guns being taken. Aircraft harried the Ger. retreat as far back as Metz. During the 13th the line was established between Fresnes and Pagny. On the 14th the Americans held up counterattacks, and advanced on a 30-m. front acro the base of the salient. On the following day they pushed W. of the Moselle at Nomeny and came within fire of the guns of Metz. The defense now stiffened, and after local adjustments of the line the battle died away on the 17th.