On September 12 (12/9) the 1st Corps quickly took Thiaucourt, whilst the 4th Corps, operating on the left, advanced beyond Montsec and reached Nonsard, further north. At the point of the salient, the 2nd French Colonial Corps gradually attained the objectives assigned to it. The 2nd Cavalry Division captured more than 2,500 prisoners with a loss of only fourteen men killed and 116 wounded. At the other end, the 5th American Corps carried the crests of Eparges and Combres, repulsed a counter-attack, and quickly joined hands with the patrols of the 4th Corps at Vigneulles. On the morning of September 13 (13/9), Generals Pershing and Pétain entered St. Mihiel. In the evening the new front line ran as follows: Herbeuville, Thillot-sous-les-Côtes, Hattonville, St. Benoit, Xammes, Jaulny, Norroy. It was a fine victory: 16,000 prisoners, 443 guns of all calibres, and huge quantities of stores and munitions were captured, with a loss of only 7,000 killed and wounded. The German retreat continued on September 14 and 15 (14/9 and 15/9) to the line Fresnes—Hautmont—Rembercourt. The offensive was finished; the jaws of the vise had closed on the salient, and the latter had disappeared. From the American advance-posts the out-works of Metz were now plainly visible, and Wagner Fort, situated in front of the town, was already under the fire of the American guns. German Comments on the Attack A German report on the American attack of the St. Mihiel salient contains the following:—“_The Americans made a clever use of their machine-guns. They are stubborn in defence, and rely greatly upon this weapon, of which they have large numbers._ “_The artillery preparation, which preceded the attack, was well carried out. The objectives were efficiently bombarded. The American gunners were able to change their targets in the minimum of time, and with great accuracy. The liaison between the infantry and the artillery was faultless. Whenever the infantry were stopped by a nest of machine-guns, they immediately fell back, and their artillery promptly shelled the nest of machine-guns._ “_Numerous tanks were ready, but only a few actually used; the masses of infantry alone ensured the victory._” [Illustration: COMRADES IN ARMS MARSHAL FOCH GENERAL PERSHING ] France’s Congratulations Immediately after the first American successes in the salient, the President of the French Republic cabled his warmest congratulations to President Wilson for the victory of “_General Pershing’s magnificent divisions, fraternally seconded by French troops_.” The praise was well deserved, as in two days the Americans had liberated 150 square miles of French territory which had been occupied four years by the enemy. [Illustration: THE OPPOSING FORCES ON ARMISTICE DAY _A crushing offensive was on the eve of being launched. The enemy, incapable of effectual resistance, hauled down their flag and capitulated._] St. Mihiel Front from Sept. 15 to Armistice Day