<– Part 216 – September 8, 1918 | Part 217 – September 15, 1918 | Part 218 – September 22, 1918

US General John J. Pershing

French forces approached the Hindenburg Line on September 10 near Savy-Dallon, and at the Battle of Vauxaillon four days later. The British are also nearing the German defensive position, piercing it at Havrincourt September 12.

Plan of battle for US forces at Saint-Mihiel

On September 12, American forces under General John J. Pershing attacked the retreating Germans at Saint-Mihiel, a salient in the lines, in an attempt to push through at retake fortified Metz. Combined with artillery and air support, this is the first battle led primarily by the Americans, who scored a significant victory against the unprepared Germans, who staged a fighting retreat for a day, until the salient was closed. The victory is attributed in large part to Pershing’s exquisite planning, which saw the Americans planning down to “H-hour” and “D-day,” two terms created for this battle. The Americans suffered 7,000 (4,500 killed) casualties, to the Germans’ 22,500 (included 15,000 prisoners).

At Baku, in Armenia, the beleaguered defenders were helped September 12 by a deserting Arab officer, warning them of an assault to come in two days. The attack did begin the night of the following day but was halted by a counterattack. Fighting continued all day the 14th before the defenders evacuated the city. The Ottomans lost 2,000 soldiers to 4000 Armenians and 200 British.

On September 15, at 5:30am, an Entente force of Serbs, French, and Greek forces attacked Bulgarian trenches in Dobro Pole, part of Serbia. Preceding by a day of artillery bombardment from 566 guns, paired with airial bombings and strafings, the end of the saw nearly 1/2 of all Bulgarian forces engaged as casualties; of the 12,000 attacked, 3,000 were captured and 2,700 killed. The Entente lost a total of 1,900.

Several German subs have been reported sunk by the North Sea Mine Barrage, a minefield laid from the Orkneys to Norway by US minelayers.