(_September-October 1914_)
=The formation of the Saint-Mihiel salient.=
After the battle of the Marne, the Crown Prince established
his lines of resistance north of the fortress, on the line
Avocourt-Melancourt-Brabant-Ornes.
[Illustration: THE FORMATION OF THE SAINT-MIHIEL SALIENT (SEPTEMBER
1914).]
On September 20th, the third Bavarian Corps attacked the 75th
reserve division, advanced rapidly on the 22nd as far as the line
Combres-Vigneulles-Thiaucourt and bombarded the forts of the
Hauts-de-Meuse. This line was defended by mobile troops outnumbered
by two to one.
On the 25th, the Germans succeeded in getting a footing on the
Hauts-de-Meuse in the region of Vigneulles. From there they pushed on
to Saint-Mihiel and entered the town, without however being able to
cross the Meuse. But on the following day, the river which was only
defended at this point by a battalion of territorials was cleared,
and the Germans started to climb again towards the valley of Aire,
in the direction of Verdun. At this dangerous moment, the sixteenth
corps which had left Nancy met the German forces, harassing them and
forcing them to fall back on the suburbs of Saint-Mihiel. It did not,
however, succeed in forcing them to withdraw on the right bank of the
Meuse. On September 29th the line ran through Combres, Chauvoncourt,
Apremont, Flirey, Le Bois le Prêtre.
The salient was made.
The enemy were attacked without cessation during the months of
October, November and December. Towards Saint-Mihiel the enemy held
their position on the left bank of the stream.
The crest of Les Éparges, after being held firmly by the enemy from
September 1914, was strongly attacked on April 6th by the twelfth
Infantry Division who struggled obstinately for over a month before
they wrested from the Germans the observation posts which from this
crest, gave near views towards the North. This brilliant action was
followed by counter-attacks by the Fifth German Corps, which were
particularly violent during the day-time of April 24th and May 5th.
Starting from this moment, the struggle assumed a less stubborn
character, but none the less keen and murderous. (_See page 129._)
[Illustration: THE EXTREMITY OF THE SAINT-MIHIEL SALIENT SEEN FROM
THE FORT DES PAROCHES.]
[Illustration: THE VILLAGE OF FORGES IN 1915.
_A footbridge of wagons crossing the stream of Forges._]
[Illustration: LES ÉPARGES IN 1915.
_During a period of quiet, a plant for making rings has been
installed at the entrance of a dug-out._]
[Illustration: IN APRIL 1915, A 75 GUN FIRING ON THE CREST OF LES
ÉPARGES.]
[Illustration: MACHINE GUN IN POSITION IN A FRONT LINE TRENCH. SECTOR
OF LES ÉPARGES, FEBRUARY 1915.]
[Illustration: A RAVINE IN THE LUXURIANT FOREST OF ARGONNE.
_In the middle a company in Indian file is going up to the line._]