ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE BEGINS

St. Mihiel offensive begins

Near the end of the First World War, the American Expeditionary Forces launched their first major offensive as a largely independent army against the German-held St. Mihiel salient in France. General John J. Pershing had long argued that American troops should fight as a unified force rather than being scattered piecemeal into Allied units, and this operation put that idea to the test. United States divisions, supported by French units, tanks, and a growing air component, attacked along a broad front to pinch off the salient that had threatened Allied communications for years. Despite mud, congestion on narrow roads, and the challenges of coordinating a large-scale assault, the offensive quickly compressed and eliminated the salient. The success boosted American confidence, showed that the United States Army could plan and execute a modern combined-arms operation, and set the stage for the even larger Meuse–Argonne campaign to follow. It also signaled to allies and adversaries that American manpower and logistics could shift the balance.