On September 24, the German attacks were renewed with increased fury. On the 25th, they succeeded in gaining a footing on the Meuse Heights near Vigneulles, whence they advanced to St. Mihiel, which they entered without, however, crossing the Meuse. At this point the river was only defended by one battalion of Territorials, and the Germans were able to cross on the 26th, after which they began to advance towards the valley of the Aire, in the direction of Verdun. The situation was critical. The 16th Corps from Nancy met and defeated the German forces, and obliged them to fall back in disorder on the suburbs of St. Mihiel, but were unable to force them back across the river. On September 29, the front line ran through Combres, Chauvoncourt, Apremont and Seicheprey. The salient had been made. [Illustration: THE DESTROYED BRIDGE AT ST. MIHIEL _In the background_: Temporary foot-bridge built by the Allies in Sept., 1918.] THE ST. MIHIEL SALIENT—Oct., 1914, to Sept., 1918 (_See map, p. 13._) [Illustration: FORTIFIED STREET IN FEY-EN-HAYE (1915)] From November 17–20 the French endeavoured to drive the Germans from the bridgehead which the enemy held at Chauvoncourt, opposite St. Mihiel. In a spirited attack they drove the Germans from the suburb and barracks of Chauvoncourt. However, the latter had been mined, the Germans, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the explosion, counter-attacked and reoccupied Chauvoncourt. This was the last attack made at the point of the salient. Only local fighting of extreme violence now took place in Apremont Forest, the result of which was, the French prevented the Germans extending the salient. French offensives were launched against the northern and southern sides of the salient, at Eparges and Prêtre Wood, in the hope of narrowing the salient and forcing the Germans to evacuate it. Eparges Crest was conquered after more than two months of the fiercest possible fighting, ending on April 9, 1915. [Illustration: ST. MIHIEL SALIENT, FROM OCT., 1914, to SEPT., 1918] However, these local actions were insufficient, and little by little the line became fixed. Both sides entrenched themselves and bombarded each other unceasingly, while the sappers carried out long and strenuous mining operations. Attacks were henceforth confined to small local objectives: a wood, house, bridge or crater, and it required the great American offensive of September, 1918, to flatten out this salient which, for four years, had formed a huge “pocket” inside the French lines. The Salient during the Battle of Verdun The German offensive, which began on February 21, 1916, caused a slight withdrawal along the whole of the French Verdun-Nancy line (_see the Michelin Illustrated Guide_: “Verdun”). The French line was withdrawn behind Fresnes, passing thence round Eparges Crest, which formed a hinge.