The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-09-24
ATTACKS AND COUNTER
ATTACKS DAY AND NIGHT
French Attempt to Smash Right Failed and Germans Are
Steadily Gaining Ground, Berlin War Office Asserts
Kaiser's Troops Make Three Counter Attacks Against
British Forces, but Fail to Break Through Their Line.

attempt the British delivered a coun-
ter attack, breaking the German lines
and following up their advantage with
a bayonet charge in which an entire
Brigade vas badly cut up.
The army of Crown Prince Frederick
William has finally turned on its pur-
suers at Montfaucon, northwest of Ver-
dun, encouraged by reinforcements
coming from the Rhine garrisons, and
the line of defense was clearly estab-
lished from sixty-seven miles north
east OF Paris, to Montfaucon.
The brunt of the French frontal at
tack being thrown against this point
and the care the Germans have taken
in terrifying accounts for the slow pro.
gress of the French offensive.
The Germans offered the most OBJ
stinate resistance and fought as though
made OF iron. The Allies at the same
time doggedly pursued the small ad-
vantage they gained and kept at the
heels of their reluctantly retiring foe.
During the seventh night OF battle
the Germans made a formidable move
ment in the western sphere, but were
met by the French and British with
great courage. The Germans returned
to the attack no fewer than ten times
with marvellous tenacity and intrepid
ity, but were unable to break through
the allied infantry.
The fight just before daybreak was
the most violent of all. The Germans
appeared to throw into the charge all
that remained of their energy, but
were rolled back with enormous loss
es. Before retiring behind their big
guns they sacrificed many of their
numbers, displaying a resolution
which approached desperation. A Wig
orous counter attack ensued. during
which a small extent OF ground was
gained.
During the combat the ad~versaries
in many instances came to hand.to-
hand clashes, and the bayonet was *
tensively used. The carnage was ter
rifying, but the troops of both armies
appear to have been hardened to such
scenes, and fought with indomltable
GOODNESS despite the heaviness Of the
losses.
Two things stand out as news amid
the general uncertainty. One is that
the French Government has issued
DEGREES by which young men of less
than twenty years, legally ineligible
for military service, are to be admit
ted as volunteers. The other is that
Maubeuge has fallen into German
hands.
The first indicates that France has
at last determined to put forth her
full fighting strength. Properly car
ried out, this new decree means
that France will have at least 7,OO0,-
900 men to face the invaders, for the
summoning OF youths below twenty
will add enough to the fighting ranks
10 bring the total up to more than
one-sixth of the entire population.
The second item, that relating TO
Maubeuge, means that Germany now
has a free and uninterrupted line Of
retreat into Southern Belgium and
Luxembourg.
While Maubeuge stood, the German
lines Of communication in this dis
trict were perforce menaced. Maui
beuge fallen gives a clear route back
along the Sambre to Charlerol, Namur
and Liege.