The Ely miner., 1914-09-11
BY PHILIP GIBBS.


Amiens, before the tunnel was broken
up, and the Germans entered into pos
session of the town on August %, the
front of the allied armies was in a
crescent from Abbeville, south Of
Amiens on wooded heights, and
thence in irregular line to south of
MeZieres
The British forces, under Sir John
French, were at the left of the center,
supporting the heavy thrust-forward
of the main German advance, while
the right was commanded by General
Pau.
A Million on the Move.
On Sunday afternoon fighting was
resumed along the whole line. The
German vanguard by this time had
been supported by fresh army corps,
which had been brought from Bel
GUM.
At least 100000 men were on the
move, pressing upon the allied forces
with ferocity of attack which has
never before been equaled. Their
cavalry swept across a great tract of
country, squadron by squadron, like
the mounted hordes of Attila, but
armed with the dreadful weapons of
modern warfare
Their artillery was in enormous
numbers and their columns advanced
under cover of it, not like an army,
but rather like moving nation-I do
not think, however, with equal pres
sure at all parts of the line. 1t formed
itself into battering ram with a
pointed end and this was thrust at
the heart of the English wing.
Impossible to Resist.
1t was impossible TO resist this on
slaught. If the British forces had
stood against it they would have been
crushed and broken. Our gunners
were magnificent and shelled the ad-
vancing German columns so that the
dead lay heaped up along the way
which was leading down to Paris; but,
as one of them told me:
1T made no manner of difference.
AS soon as we had smashed one lot,
another followed, column after column,
and by sheer weight of numbers. We
could do nothing to check them"
After this the British forces fell
back, fighting all the time. The line
of the allies was in the shape of
W; the Germans thrust their main
attack deep into the angle This po-
sition remained the same until Mon
day, or rather had completed itself by
that date, the retirement of the troops
being maintained with mastery skill
and without undue haste.
River choked With Dead.
Meanwhile General Pau was sustain
Ing terrific attack on the French cen
Ter by the German left center which
eliminated on (date omitted) The
River Disc, which runs between beau
tiful meadows, was choked with
;orpses and red with blood.
From an eye witness of this great
battle, an officer of an infantry regi-
nent who escaped with slight wound,
I learned that the German onslaught
had been repelled by a series of bril-
liant bayonet and cavalry charges.
The Germans" he said, had the
elite of their army engaged against
US, including the Tenth army corps
and the Imperial guard, but the hero
ism of our troops was sublime. Every
man knew that the safety of France
depended upon MIN and was ready to
sacrifice his life, if need be, with joy
full enthusiasm
Gave Great Punishment.
"They not only resisted the enemy's
attack, but took the offensive, and, in
spite of their overpowering numbers,
gave them tremendous punishment.
They had to recoil before our guns.
Hundreds of them were bayoneted
and hundreds were hurled into the
river. The whole field of battle was
outlined by dead and dying men whom
they had to abandon. Certainly their
losses were enormous, and | felt that
the German retreat was in full swing
and that we could claim a real victory
for the time being"
Pau Compelled to Yield.
Nevertheless the inevitable hap
pened, owing to the vast reserves of
the enemy, who brought up four divi-
sions, and General Pau was compelled
to give ground.
On Tuesday German skirmishers
with light artillery were coming south
ward, and the sound of their field
guns greeted my ears. Presently |
saw the figure of French dragon,
with his carbine slung behind his back.
He was standing by the side OF
number of gunpowder hags. A little
farther away were little groups OF SOL
diers at work by two bridges, one over
a stream and one over a road. They
were working very calmly and | could
see what they were doing. They wc~e
mining the bridges to blow them up
at given signal.
AS went farther / saw the streets
were strewn with broken bottles and
Uttered with wire entanglements, art
fully and carefully made.
Trap for German Army.
1t was obvious that there was very
grim business being done and that the
soldiers were waiting for something to
happen. At the railway station quick
Iy learned the truth. The Germans
were only a few miles away in great
force. At any moment they might
come down, smashing everything in
their way.
The station master, brave old type,
and one or two porters, had demand
ed to stay on to the last.
I'VE are here" he said, as though
the Germans would have to reckon
With him hut he was emphatic in his